Effects of a Tailored Mobile Messaging Intervention for Indoor Tanning Cessation in Young Females: A Randomized Clinical Trial

Abstract

Background: Indoor tanning increases the risk of skin cancer and can become addictive. There is little research on indoor tanning cessation interventions.

Methods: From 2019 to 2022, we conducted a clinical trial (n = 265) testing a tailored mobile messaging cessation intervention in 18- to 30-year-old females screened for indoor tanning addiction. Participants were randomized to a control arm receiving standard risk education or a cessation intervention arm receiving tailored mobile messaging for 4 weeks. The main outcomes were indoor tanning cessation, motivation to quit, quit attempts, and indoor tanning cognitions assessed at the end of treatment and 3 months later.

Results: At the end of treatment, intervention participants were more likely to report quitting indoor tanning [OR = 2.10, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.99-4.44; P < 0.05], but there were no significant differences by 3 months (OR = 1.54, 95% CI = 0.82-2.87; P = 0.17). Intervention participants who did not quit reported higher motivation to quit than control participants at the end of treatment (M = 3.40, SD = 1.72, M = 2.54, SD = 1.63; P < 0.01) and 3 months (M = 3.75, SD = 1.93, M = 2.85, SD = 1.85; P < 0.01).

Conclusions: Tailored mobile messaging successfully affects indoor tanning cessation behaviors and cognitions in young adult females who meet the screening criteria for tanning addiction.

Impact: This trial provides preliminary support for the efficacy of a mobile messaging cessation intervention for young adult females who meet the screening criteria for tanning addiction. Results indicate that additional intervention features should be tested to increase the durability of effects.

Figure 1.

Clinical trial screening, enrollment, allocation, and retention flow diagram A CONSORT flow diagram indicating the progress of the randomized controlled trial (enrollment, allocation, and follow-ups).