Evaluation of Immediate and 12-Week Effects of a Smartphone Sun-Safety Mobile Application

Abstract

Importance Mobile apps on smart phones can communicate a large amount of personalized, real-time health information, including advice on skin cancer prevention, but their effectiveness may be affected by whether Americans can be convinced to use them. Objective A smart phone mobile application delivering real-time sun protection advice was evaluated for a second time in a randomized trial. Design The trial conducted in 2013 utilized a randomized pretest-posttest controlled design. Screening procedures and a 3-week run-in period were added to increase use of the mobile app. Also, follow-ups at 3- and 8-weeks after randomization were conducted to examine immediate and longer-term effects. Setting Data was collected from participants recruited nationwide through online promotions. Participants A volunteer sample of adults aged 18 or older who owned an Android or iPhone smart phones. Intervention The mobile application gave feedback on sun protection (i.e., sun safety practices and sunburn risk) and alerted users to apply/reapply sunscreen and get out of the sun. Also, it displayed the hourly UV Index and vitamin D production based on the forecast UV Index, time, and location. Main Outcomes and Measures Percent of days using sun protection and days and minutes outdoors in the midday sun and number of sunburns in the past 3 months were assesed. Results Treatment group participants used wide-brimmed hats more at 7-weeks than controls. Women who used Solar Cell reported using all sun protection combined more than men but men and older individuals used sunscreen and hats less. Conclusions and Relevance The mobile application appeared to weakly improve sun protection initially. Use of the mobile application was higher than in a previous trial and associated with greater sun protection especially by women. Strategies to increase use are needed if the mobile app is to be effective deployed to the general adult population.

Acceptability and Feasibility of a Trial Testing Allocation to Sunscreen and a Smartphone App for Sun Protection: Discontinued Randomized Controlled Trial

“…Users were particularly interested in the Sun alert service, highlighting the value of receiving prompts and advice in convenient place (eg, holiday setting). These findings, although preliminary, are very promising and align with those found in other investigations of mobile apps to promote sun protection, in which usage and acceptability have been similarly demonstrated [11,12,35]. The systematic and iterative development of the app [15] and the theory-driven nature of the app [42], including active components shown to be key in interventions promoting sun protection [13], may have led to greater usage.…”

“…A scalable and geographically flexible mobile phone intervention might be an effective way of reaching this population. Mobile phone interventions have been shown to improve sun protection behaviors either by using SMS text messaging (short message service, SMS) interventions or mobile phone apps [10][11][12]. A novel mobile phone intervention (mISkin app) to promote sun protection among holidaymakers has recently been developed based on evidence [13,14], experts' knowledge and experience, and user involvement [15].…”

Vitamin D Mobile Healthcare Applications for Consumer Use - Are They Any Good?

“…Buller et al have published their work [18,19,20] reporting on the development of the app Solar Cell, designed for the Android smartphone, and where the aim is to provide real time sun protection advice. The pilot stage included the running of focus groups for conceptual determination [18], followed by four rounds of usability testing to develop the app interface.…”

“…The pilot stage included the running of focus groups for conceptual determination [18], followed by four rounds of usability testing to develop the app interface. This work found that adults desired sun protection advice, they identified few barriers to app use and were willing to input personal data.…”

“…When utilised, it was associated with increased sun protection but with no significant difference in number of sunburns in the past 3 months from point of study. The research team commented [18,19] that strategies to increase use of mobile apps would be needed for more effective deployment in the general adult population.…”