Assessment of skin cancer precision prevention materials among Hispanics in Florida and Puerto Rico

Abstract

ObjectiveTo assess Hispanic participants’ ratings of intervention materials and examine differences by language preference. MethodsParticipants on a skin cancer prevention trial were randomized to receive generic (n = 457) or precision prevention materials conveying average (n = 195) or higher genetic risk (n = 268) based on MC1R genotype. Three months after receiving either English or Spanish language prevention materials, participants reported amount read, believability and clarity of materials, and intention to change preventive behavior. ResultsParticipants reported high levels on all four outcomes, but the precision prevention groups noted lower clarity than the generic group (p = 3.2 ×10-6). Participants preferring Spanish provided consistently higher scores than those preferring English. Among English-preferring participants, those in the precision prevention groups scored lower on all measures than those in the generic group. ConclusionsSkin cancer prevention materials were well-received by Hispanic participants. Higher scores among participants preferring Spanish may indicate acquiescence bias, or that translated prevention materials met their linguistic needs. Participants in the precision prevention groups with English language preference may have challenges in the uptake of genetic risk results. Practice ImplicationsAvailability of Spanish materials may have facilitated higher scores. Additional strategies should be explored to optimize participants’ believability and clarity of precision prevention materials.