EXAMINING THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN TECHNOLOGICAL SAVVINESS IN MELANOMA PATIENTS AND SELF EFFICACY IN USING INFORMATION FROM TABLET-BASED INTERVENTIONS FOR SELF-SKIN EXAMINATIONS
Open Access
- Author:
- Scaglione, Christine Nicole
- Area of Honors:
- Biobehavioral Health
- Degree:
- Bachelor of Science
- Document Type:
- Thesis
- Thesis Supervisors:
- Robert Turrisi, Thesis Supervisor
Dr. Lori Anne Francis, Thesis Honors Advisor - Keywords:
- skin cancer
melanoma
self skin examination - Abstract:
- Patients who have had melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer, are at increased risk of developing it again. Studies have shown technology-based interventions to be as efficacious as traditional interventions in teaching patients to perform self-skin examinations (SSE), in order to increase early detection. The aim of this study is to examine the association between melanoma patients’ technological savviness and self-efficacy in performing SSE after a tablet-based intervention. Participants included melanoma patients and their partners from Project Skin Watch, a randomized controlled trial, who were randomly assigned to one of four groups (in-person intervention, workbook intervention, tablet intervention, or control with no intervention). This paper looked solely at the tablet intervention group (N=71). At baseline and 4 months post-intervention, participants were assessed on their internet/mobile usage patterns, confidence in performing SSE, and actual frequency of skin checks. Multiple regression analysis was used to examine the relationship between the technological savviness and self-efficacy in performing SSE, while controlling for baseline values of confidence and skin check frequency, gender and age. Time spent on the Internet was not significantly associated with confidence at 4 months after controlling for age and baseline levels of confidence (B=-.150, SE=1.008, p=0.203). Results were similar when looking at the predictor of Internet activity, which when controlled for gender and baseline levels of confidence, was also not significantly associated with confidence at 4 months (B=.037, SE=.776, p=.740). When assessing the relationship between technological savviness and skin check frequency, the results also demonstrated a weak, insignificant association between the variables (Internet Time: B=0.011, SE=0.156, p=0.942) (Internet Activity: B=-0.031, SE=0.138, p=0.822). Low levels of technological savviness were not associated with a reduced level of confidence in performing SSE, nor a reduced level of skin check frequency, after receiving a tablet intervention. This demonstrates that patients with less technological experience benefit just as much from the tablet interventions than those with more experience.