Seeing is Believing: Efficacy of a Video-Based Intervention in Improving Skin Cancer Risk Awareness and Preventative Strategies Among Solid Organ Transplant Recipients
R. Saranath, J. Gomez, E. Shah, S. Michalak, R. Haughton, B. Fernandez, I. Ahronowitz
USC Keck School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA
Meeting: 2022 American Transplant Congress
Abstract number: 450
Keywords: Patient education, Post-transplant malignancy, Risk factors, Screening
Topic: Clinical Science » Ethics » 22 - Psychosocial and Treatment Adherence
Session Information
Session Name: Psychosocial and Treatment Adherence
Session Type: Rapid Fire Oral Abstract
Date: Tuesday, June 7, 2022
Session Time: 3:30pm-5:00pm
Presentation Time: 4:20pm-4:30pm
Location: Hynes Room 311
*Purpose: Despite improvement in their overall life expectancy, solid organ transplant recipients (SOTRs) remain at elevated risk of developing non-melanoma skin cancers. Moreover, patients of color tend to have delayed skin cancer diagnosis and treatment. It is critical to find better ways to educate diverse populations about skin cancer risk in SOTRs. Prior studies have used different media forms to deliver information about skin cancer. Video messages resulted in enhanced retention of key information and were more likely to motivate behavioral changes. We designed a video-based intervention to improve awareness of the risk and prevention of non-melanoma skin cancers in SOTRs.
*Methods: In this ongoing prospective study, we enrolled SOTRs from our majority Hispanic patient population at Los Angeles County Hospital and USC Keck Hospital seen by our dermatology department. Participants completed a pre-intervention survey assessing their sun protective behaviors and perceived risk of developing skin cancer. We developed an informational video in English and Spanish highlighting the elevated risk of non-melanoma skin cancers in SOTRs as well as preventive strategies. After viewing our video, patients completed a post-intervention survey to measure changes to their perceptions and practices.
*Results: 54 SOTRs were enrolled in this study. We analyzed the results of 23 patients who completed both the pre- and post-intervention surveys. 83.3% of patients reported sunscreen use pre-intervention compared to 91.3% post-intervention. In addition, 42.6% of patients reported a greater understanding of their skin cancer risk pre-intervention compared to 78.3% post-intervention, with self-skin checks being performed in the past month by 48.1% of patients pre-intervention versus 78.3% post-intervention. The demographics of our study population do not represent the majority Hispanic patients served by LA County and Keck Hospitals. While 40.7% of overall participants identified as Hispanic or Latino, only 17.4% of the post-intervention group did. We are currently enrolling more patients in hopes of achieving a representative study population.
*Conclusions: Our study builds on prior literature demonstrating the efficacy of video messaging on motivating behavioral changes to reduce skin cancer risk. This is a time- and cost-effective method to increase skin cancer awareness in high-risk patients. The fall in Hispanic and Latino patient participation during our study highlights the need to address retention of minority patients. Our team will continue monitoring participants to test the efficacy of video-based interventions in delivering key health information. We believe with appropriately designed and implemented video messaging, our target population will be more likely to adhere to safe sun practices and have a greater understanding of their risk of developing skin cancer.
To cite this abstract in AMA style:
Saranath R, Gomez J, Shah E, Michalak S, Haughton R, Fernandez B, Ahronowitz I. Seeing is Believing: Efficacy of a Video-Based Intervention in Improving Skin Cancer Risk Awareness and Preventative Strategies Among Solid Organ Transplant Recipients [abstract]. Am J Transplant. 2022; 22 (suppl 3). https://atcmeetingabstracts.com/abstract/seeing-is-believing-efficacy-of-a-video-based-intervention-in-improving-skin-cancer-risk-awareness-and-preventative-strategies-among-solid-organ-transplant-recipients/. Accessed November 21, 2024.« Back to 2022 American Transplant Congress