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

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

Methods: From 2019-2022, we conducted a clinical trial (n=265) testing a tailored mobile messaging cessation intervention in 18-30-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. Main outcomes were indoor tanning cessation, motivation to quit, quit attempts, and indoor tanning cognitions assessed at end of treatment and 3 months later.

Results: At end of treatment, intervention participants were more likely to report quitting indoor tanning (OR = 2.10, 95% CI = 0.99 - 4.44, p <.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's < 0.01) and 3 months (M = 3.75, SD = 1.93, M = 2.85, SD = 1.85, p's < 0.01).

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

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