Facebook Intervention for Young-Onset Melanoma Patients and Their Family Members: Pilot and Feasibility Study

Background: Despite their elevated melanoma risk, young-onset melanoma patients and their families exhibit low rates of engagement in skin cancer surveillance and sun protection behaviors. Interventions that improve skin cancer surveillance (total cutaneous exam [TCE] and skin self-exam [SSE]) and prevention (sun protection) practices among young-onset patients and their family members would likely have an impact on skin cancer morbidity and mortality; however, such interventions are lacking. Objective: The objective of our study was to examine the development, feasibility, and preliminary impact of a family-focused Facebook intervention to increase engagement in TCE, SSE, and sun protection among young-onset melanoma patients and their families. Methods: In this study, 48 young-onset melanoma patients and their 40 family members completed measures of knowledge; beliefs; and TCE, SSE, and sun protection intentions before and 1 month after participating in 1 of 5 separate “secret” (ie, private) Facebook groups. The intervention content consisted of daily postings about skin cancer, skin cancer risk factors, TCE, SSE, and sun protection. Results: Patient and family member participation rates differed by recruitment setting, with acceptance rates ranging from 24.6% to 39.0% among families recruited from a cancer center setting and from 12.7% to 61.5% among families recruited from a state registry. Among the 5 consecutive groups conducted, engagement, as measured by comments and likes in response to postings, increased across the groups. In addition, participants positively evaluated the intervention content and approach. Preliminary analyses indicated increases in TCE, SSE, and sun protection intentions. Conclusions: Our family-focused Facebook intervention showed promise as a potentially feasible and efficacious method to increase sun protection and skin cancer surveillance among individuals at increased risk for melanoma. [JMIR Dermatol 2018;1(2):e3]