Interactive Media for Early Detection of Skin Cancers

Elderly women and men are at higher risk for developing skin cancers, as a result of theirincreased cumulative exposure to ultraviolet radiation, and their depressed immune system functioningrelative to younger persons. Interactive multimedia materials providing information about skin lesionsand teaching early detection skills will be developed for target groups of elderly. Social cognitiveprinciples and social marketing techniques will be incorporated in the program to engage, motivate,educate, and maintain behavioral change in older adults. Focus group and individual interviews will beused in the development and pilot-testing of the educational materials. Program content will includeinformation about risk factors for skin cancers, strategies for promoting skin examinations, examples ofpre-cancerous and cancerous lesions, and techniques for self examination and examination of the skinof others. Both videodisc and CD-ROM storage media will be tested. Qualitative and quantitativeresearch techniques will be used in the creation, formative evaluation, and revision of teaching materials.A summative evaluation examining the effectiveness of the program and the cost-benefit characteristicsof the product will take place during the next phase of the research.