Efficacy of a partner assistance intervention designed to increase skin self-examination performance

To examine the role of partner assistance in learning and implementation of an intervention designed to promote skin self-examination (SSE) behaviors in persons at risk of developing melanoma.

Randomized controlled trial with immediate and 4-month follow-up visits.

Clinical offices in the ambulatory care area of a hospital. Patients The study included 130 participants and their cohabiting partners drawn from a melanoma registry. Intervention The subjects were randomly assigned to receive the intervention either as solo learning or as dyadic learning. The intervention consisted of a 10-minute demonstration of the ABCDE (asymmetry of shape, border irregularity, color variegation, diameter > or =6 mm, and evolution of the lesion) rule and skills training.

Behavioral measures included self-reported performance of SSE and use of a body map designed to record areas of concern found during SSE. Intentions, along with attitudinal measures such as perceived importance of SSE and self-efficacy in performing SSE, were also assessed at the 4-month follow-up visit.

The participants in the dyadic learning group were significantly more likely to report engaging in SSE behaviors (P<.05). The dyadic learning group also exhibited greater intentions to perform future SSE (P<.01), higher perceived importance of SSE (P<.01), and higher perceived self-efficacy (P<.01).

Dyadic learning may be more effective than solo learning in regard to interventions designed to teach and promote health behaviors, such as SSE.