The overarching goal of this research project is to revise and enhance a multimedia computer-based multiple risk factor intervention for cancer prevention, using the internet to reach a general population. Two innovative, individualized, easily disseminated, low-cost, and interactive interventions, both for multiple behaviors (sun protection and exercise adoption), will be developed and evaluated in comparison to a control condition. The first intervention involves adapting our effective multimedia expert system interventions to the internet environment. The second intervention builds on the first with the additional inclusion of a Relational Agent, a recently developed computer-based approach to establishing a personal relationship typically missing on internet sites. Both systems will employ the same theoretical model of behavior change, the Transtheoretical Model, as the deep knowledge, and all systems will employ empirically based decision rules. The design is a 3 Group (Control, Internet, Internet plus Relational Agent) x 3 Occasions (0, 12, 24 Months) with intervention occurring during the first 12 months. A representative national sample of 1639 individuals at risk for both behaviors will be recruited. The primary aims are: (1) To develop and assess the effectiveness of a tailored internet intervention on a national sample;(2) To develop and assess the effectiveness of the internet intervention enhanced by a relational agent;and (3) To determine if the intervention with the relational agent can outperform the regular tailored internet intervention. The secondary aims are: (1) To determine if the two interventions are differentially effective with each behavior and with different subgroups, and (2) To determine if the relational agent intervention is utilized more often for increasing exercise than for sun protection. This study targets two major risk factors for cancer;is designed to treat the behaviors on a population basis, using proactive recruitment strategies;intervenes on multiple behaviors simultaneously, thereby producing greater impacts for cancer prevention;utilizes one of the most promising approaches to low cost population based interventions for health-related behavior change, namely the internet;and develops and tests a promising new approach to increasing the utilization and effectiveness of internet-based interventions, relational agents.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Cancer Institute (NCI)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01CA119195-05
Application #
8134346
Study Section
Community-Level Health Promotion Study Section (CLHP)
Program Officer
Hesse, Bradford
Project Start
2007-08-01
Project End
2013-07-31
Budget Start
2011-08-01
Budget End
2013-07-31
Support Year
5
Fiscal Year
2011
Total Cost
$500,887
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Rhode Island
Department
Internal Medicine/Medicine
Type
Schools of Arts and Sciences
DUNS #
144017188
City
Kingston
State
RI
Country
United States
Zip Code
02881
Sillice, Marie A; Morokoff, Patricia J; Ferszt, Ginette et al. (2018) Using Relational Agents to Promote Exercise and Sun Protection: Assessment of Participants' Experiences With Two Interventions. J Med Internet Res 20:e48
Babbin, Steven F; Yin, Hui-Qing; Rossi, Joseph S et al. (2015) Reducing Sun Exposure for Prevention of Skin Cancers: Factorial Invariance and Reliability of the Self-Efficacy Scale for Sun Protection. J Skin Cancer 2015:862732
Yin, Hui-Qing; Rossi, Joseph S; Redding, Colleen A et al. (2014) Validity and stability of the decisional balance for sun protection inventory. J Skin Cancer 2014:190541
Sillice, Marie A; Paiva, Andrea L; Babbin, Steven F et al. (2014) Testing demographic differences for alcohol use initiation among adolescents for the decisional balance and situational temptation prevention inventories. Addict Behav 39:1367-71
Velicer, Wayne F; Redding, Colleen A; Paiva, Andrea L et al. (2013) Multiple behavior interventions to prevent substance abuse and increase energy balance behaviors in middle school students. Transl Behav Med 3:82-93
Santiago-Rivas, Marimer; Velicer, Wayne F; Redding, Colleen A et al. (2013) Outcomes of cluster profiles within stages of change for sun protection behavior. Psychol Health Med 18:471-81
Santiago-Rivas, Marimer; Velicer, Wayne F; Redding, Colleen A et al. (2012) Cluster subtypes within the precontemplation stage of change for sun protection behavior. Psychol Health Med 17:311-22
McGee, Heather A; Babbin, Steven F; Redding, Colleen et al. (2012) Prevention of smoking in Middle School Students: psychometric assessment of the Temptations to Try Smoking Scale. Addict Behav 37:521-3
Harrington, Magdalena; Babbin, Steven; Redding, Colleen et al. (2011) Psychometric assessment of the Temptations to Try Alcohol Scale. Addict Behav 36:431-3
Redding, Colleen A; Prochaska, James O; Paiva, Andrea et al. (2011) Baseline stage, severity, and effort effects differentiate stable smokers from maintainers and relapsers. Subst Use Misuse 46:1664-74

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