A photoaging smartphone application to promote sun safety behaviors among youth in late childhood and adolescence

Abstract

AbstractBackgroundUltraviolet (UV)‐exposure behaviors can directly impact an individual's skin cancer risk, with many habits formed during childhood and adolescence. We explored the utility of a photoaging smartphone application to motivate youth to improve sun safety practices.MethodsParticipants completed a preintervention survey to gather baseline sun safety perceptions and behaviors. Participants then used a photoaging mobile application to view the projected effects of chronic UV exposure on participants' self‐face image over time, followed by a postintervention survey to assess motivation to engage in future sun safety practices.ResultsThe study sample included 87 participants (median [interquartile (IQR)] age, 14 [11–16] years). Most participants were White (50.6%) and reported skin type that burns a little and tans easily (42.5%). Preintervention sun exposure behaviors among participants revealed that 33 (37.9%) mostly or always used sunscreen on a sunny day, 48 (55.2%) experienced at least one sunburn over the past year, 26 (30.6%) engaged in outdoor sunbathing at least once during the past year, and zero (0%) used indoor tanning beds. Non‐skin of color (18 [41.9%], p = .02) and older (24 [41.4%], p = .007) participants more often agreed they felt better with a tan. Most participants agreed the intervention increased their motivation to practice sun‐protective behaviors (wear sunscreen, 74 [85.1%]; wear hats, 64 [74.4%]; avoid indoor tanning, 73 [83.9%]; avoid outdoor tanning, 68 [79%]).ConclusionThe findings of this cross‐sectional study suggest that a photoaging smartphone application may serve as a useful tool to promote sun safety behaviors from a young age.