Tailored versus generic interventions for skin cancer risk reduction for family members of melanoma patients.

BACKGROUND: Improving strategies for risk reduction among family members of patients with melanoma may reduce their risk for melanoma. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effects of two behavioral interventions designed to improve the frequency of total cutaneous skin examination by a health provider (TCE), skin self-examination (SSE), and sun protection among first degree relatives of patients with melanoma; and to evaluate whether increased intentions, increased benefits, decreased barriers, and improved sunscreen self-efficacy mediated the effects of the tailored intervention, as compared with the generic intervention on TCE, SSE, or sun protection. METHODS: Four hundred forty-three family members (56 parents, 248 siblings, 239 children) who were nonadherent with these practices were randomly assigned to either a generic (N = 218) or a tailored intervention (N = 225) which included 3 print mailings and 1 telephone session. Participants completed measures of TCE, SSE, and sun protections at baseline, 6 months, and 1 year, and measures of intentions, benefits, barriers, and self-efficacy at baseline and 6 months. RESULTS: Those enrolled in the tailored intervention had almost a twofold increased probability of having a TCE ( p < .0001). Treatment effects in favor of the tailored intervention were also noted for sun protection habits ( p < .02). Increases in TCE intentions mediated the tailored intervention's effects on TCE. Increases in sun protection intentions mediated effects of the tailored intervention's effect on sun protection. CONCLUSIONS: Tailored interventions may improve risk reduction practices among family members of patients with melanoma.