Related Experiment Video
Updated: Dec 21, 2025
12:37
Pharmacologic Induction of Epidermal Melanin and Protection Against Sunburn in a Humanized Mouse Model
Published on: September 7, 2013
18.6K
Text message reminders for improving sun protection habits: A systematic review
Diego Chambergo-Michilot1, Walter Andree Tellez2, Naysha Becerra-Chauca3
1Universidad Científica del Sur, Lima, Peru.
Plos One
|May 20, 2020
Summary
SMS text reminders show no significant benefit for improving sun protection habits or reducing sunburn. More high-quality research is needed to confirm these findings on sun safety behaviors.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Preventive Medicine
- Health Behavior Interventions
Background:
- Excessive ultraviolet (UV) radiation exposure elevates skin cancer risk.
- SMS text reminders offer a scalable and accessible method for health promotion.
Purpose of the Study:
- To systematically review randomized controlled trials (RCTs) assessing SMS text reminders for improving sun protection habits.
Main Methods:
- Systematic literature search in PubMed, Cochrane Library, and Scopus up to December 2018.
- Included RCTs evaluating SMS text reminders for sun protection; meta-analyses and GRADE certainty assessment were performed.
- Study protocol registered with PROSPERO (CRD42018091661).
Main Results:
- Five RCTs were reviewed; pooled analysis showed no effect of SMS reminders on sunburn incidence.
- Results for sunscreen use and general sun protection habits were inconsistent and could not be meta-analyzed.
- The certainty of evidence for all outcomes was rated as very low using GRADE methodology.
Conclusions:
- Current RCTs do not demonstrate a significant benefit of SMS text reminders for sunburn, sunscreen use, or sun protection habits.
- The very low certainty of evidence necessitates future high-quality studies to determine the efficacy of SMS interventions for sun safety.
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