Trial Information

Evaluation of Sun Protection Education for Kidney Transplant Recipients

Cognitive interview about the Sun Protection Strategies workbook will be performed with up
to 25 kidney transplant recipients (KTR) who have participated in past surveys. A second
phase of the study involves 156 KTRs that will be asked to take part in a randomized
controlled trial evaluating the fully developed sun protective strategies workbook.

Kidney transplant recipients (KTRs) are at risk to develop skin cancer. Adequate sun
protection after transplantation can reduce the risk of developing skin cancer. In 2006, the
National Kidney Foundation (NKF) found that sun protection education delivery and content
varied among transplantation centers. Clinicians rarely knew when to initiate education
about skin cancer risks and prevention including timing and scope, and rarely demonstrated
understanding of the importance of reminders for and repeated education of patients
(National Kidney Foundation 2006).

Aims:

1. To explore culturally sensitive use of terms describing ethnic cultural perceptions of
sun burning, pigment darkening after sun exposure and description of skin color by the
amount of photo-protective pigment in the skin.

2. To pilot test the sun protection workbook with English speaking KTRs representing the 3
ethnic groups: White, Black and Hispanic.

3. To assess the effectiveness of an education intervention encouraging the use of sun
protection strategies.

4. To explore understanding of the importance of sun protection and the KTRs confidence in
their being able to practice sun protection.