Impact of Sunscreen Dispensers in Parks Visited by Teenagers

NCT05908435 | Active Not Recruiting

• 1 other identifier: IRB22-1402
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 1,200
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

This study will evaluate the use of publicly available free sunscreen dispensers at Maine beaches and Boston and Cambridge parks. Aim 1: Determine the impact of DFS+ (dispensers, flyers, enhanced signage, + a social media component delivered by teen ambassadors) sun protection education on the use of free sunscreen dispensers by adolescents ages 12-20 compared with DFS (dispensers, flyers, standard signage). Aim 2: Outcomes evaluation to assess the effects of the sunscreen dispensers and the sun-safety educational intervention on sun protection knowledge, attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors within the community. Aim 3: Cost Evaluation and Cost-Effectiveness Analysis

Conditions

Skin Neoplasm; Adolescent Behavior; Sunscreening Agents

Keywords

Skin Neoplasm; Adolescent Behavior; Sunscreening Agents

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (2)

• Dispenser utilization/Measured reduction in sunscreen levels in dispensers

  The investigators will count of the number of teens between the ages of 12 and 20 using the sunscreen dispenser in real-time at the park or beach as they are using the dispenser. This will serve as the numerator. The investigators will also conduct observations to determine an estimated number of teens who are the park on a given day. This will serve as the denominator. This count will be in real-time, counting the number of teens who we observe at the park or beach where the study is taking place.

  In real-time, up to 1 day

• Reported use of sunscreen from surveys completed by teens

  Survey responses about sunscreen use

  In real-time, up to 1 day

Secondary Outcomes (1)

• Sun prevention practices

  In real-time, up to 1 day

Study Arms (2)

Dispensers, Flyers, Enhanced Signage + a social media component delivered by teen ambassadors

EXPERIMENTAL

The DFS+ experimental group is designed to increase utilization of free sunscreen dispensers, applying and reapplying sunscreen, and motivating use of other forms of sun protection by teens in 8 Boston parks and 2 Maine beaches. IMPACT Melanoma will install and maintain free sunscreen dispensers at the study sites. Flyers will be posted at locations at the park/beach to inform people of the availability of free sunscreen and the location of the dispenser. 'Teen enhanced' signage will be present on the dispenser in the intervention parks/beaches. Teen ambassadors will share 3-5 posts to their social media platform over the course of 1 week encouraging sun protection practices and use of the free sunscreen dispenser (when the intervention is occurring at the study site).

Behavioral: Dispensers, Flyers, Enhanced Signage + a social media component delivered by teen ambassadors

Dispensers, Flyers, Signage

NO INTERVENTION

The DFS control group includes dispensers, flyers, and standard signage at 8 Boston parks and 2 Maine beaches. IMPACT Melanoma will install and maintain free sunscreen dispensers at the study sites. Flyers will be posted at locations at the park/beach to inform people of the availability of free sunscreen and the location of the dispenser. Standard signage will be present on the dispenser in the control parks/beaches.

Interventions

Dispensers, Flyers, Enhanced Signage + a social media component delivered by teen ambassadors BEHAVIORAL

The study intervention is designed to increase utilization of free sunscreen dispensers, applying and reapplying sunscreen, and motivating use of other forms of sun protection by teens. IMPACT Melanoma will install and maintain free sunscreen dispensers at the study sites. Flyers will be posted at locations at the park/beach to inform people of the availability of free sunscreen and the location of the dispenser. 'Teen enhanced' signage will be present on the dispenser in the intervention parks/beaches. Teen ambassadors will share 3-5 posts to their social media platform over the course of 1 week encouraging sun protection practices and use of the free sunscreen dispenser (when the intervention is occurring at the study site).

Dispensers, Flyers, Enhanced Signage + a social media component delivered by teen ambassadors

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 12 Years - 20 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Child (0-17), Adult (18-64)

You may qualify if:

• Being a Boston, MA, Cambridge, MA or Maine youth ages 12-20
• Able to complete a survey in English

You may not qualify if:

• Not a Boston, MA, Cambridge, MA or Maine youth ages 12-20
• Not able to complete a survey in English

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Harvard School of Public Health (HSPH): lead
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: collaborator

Study Sites (1)

Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health

Boston, Massachusetts, 02155, United States

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Skin Neoplasms; Adolescent Behavior

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Neoplasms by Site; Neoplasms; Skin Diseases; Skin and Connective Tissue Diseases; Behavior

Study Officials

• Alan Geller, MPH, RN

  Harvard School of Public Health (HSPH)

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: SINGLE
• Who Masked: PARTICIPANT
• Masking Details: Teen survey participants will not know whether the park where the free sunscreen dispenser is located is an intervention or control site.
• Purpose: PREVENTION
• Intervention Model: SINGLE GROUP
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Alan Geller, RN, MPH

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: May 30, 2023
• First Posted: June 18, 2023
• Study Start: June 3, 2023
• Primary Completion: August 31, 2024
• Study Completion: December 1, 2025
• Last Updated: October 18, 2024

Record last verified: 2024-10

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

US (1)