The Feasibility of a Motivational Enhancement Approach to Skin Cancer Prevention in a Sample of Young Adult Patients

Although skin cancer is the most common form of cancer in the United States, it is highly preventable by reducing exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation. However, recent primary prevention efforts have been inadequate in evoking behavior change, as manifested by increasing rates of ultraviolet radiation exposure, particularly among young adults. These findings indicate the need to research novel approaches to skin cancer prevention.

Motivational enhancement techniques facilitate patient-centered, directive discussions wherein practitioners provide clear structure and encourage patients to play an active role in the consultation. The use of motivational enhancement techniques for health behavior change in medical settings has thus far yielded encouraging results for other health behavior change topics, but research has not yet investigated the application of these techniques to skin cancer prevention discussions.