Impact of Sunscreen Dispensers in Parks Visited by Teenagers

Adolescent Behavior Clinical Trial

Official title:

Measuring the Impact of Free Sunscreen Dispensers in Community Settings Frequented by Youth

Clinical Trial Details — Status: Recruiting

Administrative data

• NCT number: NCT05908435
• Other study ID #: IRB22-1402
• Status: Recruiting
• Phase: N/A
• Start date: June 3, 2023
• Est. completion date: December 2024

Study information

• Verified date: June 2023
• Source: Harvard School of Public Health (HSPH)
• Contact: Alan Geller, MPH, RN
• Phone: 617-432-1648
• Email: ageller[@]hsph.harvard.edu
• Is FDA regulated: No
• Study type: Interventional

Clinical Trial Summary

This study will evaluate the use of publicly available free sunscreen dispensers at Maine beaches and Boston 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 12-18 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

Description:

The investigators will build on the pioneering work of IMPACT Melanoma which has provided free sunscreen dispensers to a general population. This study will build on IMPACT Melanoma's ability to install, maintain, and now for the first time, target and publicize the use of dispensers for a teen population. The investigators will test scalable methods for improving the use of free sunscreen dispensers by testing DFS interventions compared with the addition of social media led by teen ambassadors. The investigators will evaluate the impact of the intervention in both parks and beaches in Boston, MA and Maine.

Recruitment information / eligibility

• Status: Recruiting
• Enrollment: 1200
• Est. completion date: December 2024
• Est. primary completion date: August 2024
• Accepts healthy volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers
• Gender: All
• Age group: 12 Years to 18 Years

Eligibility

Inclusion Criteria:

• Being a Boston or Maine youth ages 12-18

• Able to complete a survey in English

Exclusion Criteria:

• Not a Boston or Maine youth ages 12-18

• Not able to complete a survey in English

Related Conditions & MeSH terms

• Adolescent Behavior
• Skin Neoplasm
• Skin Neoplasms
• Sunscreening Agents

Intervention

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

Locations

Country	Name	City	State
United States	Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health	Boston	Massachusetts

Sponsors (4)

Lead Sponsor	Collaborator
Harvard School of Public Health (HSPH)	Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, IMPACT Melanoma, Klein Buendel

Country where clinical trial is conducted

United States, 

Outcome

Type	Measure	Description	Time frame	Safety issue
Primary	Dispenser utilization/Measured reduction in sunscreen levels in dispensers	The investigators will count of the number of teens between the ages of 12 and 18 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
Primary	Reported use of sunscreen from surveys completed by teens	Survey responses about sunscreen use	In real-time, up to 1 day
Secondary	Sun prevention practices	Survey responses about sun protection practices	In real-time, up to 1 day