Overview: Skin cancer survivors remain at high risk of recurrence, particularly melanoma survivors who face the possibility of developing a second melanoma. Despite this elevated risk, many survivors do not regularly perform thorough skin self-examinations (SSE), a crucial step in early detection. To bridge this gap, the mySmartSkin (MSS) intervention was developed. MSS is a fully automated, mobile-based program designed to increase the frequency and quality of thorough SSEs among melanoma survivors.
Challenge:
Melanoma survivors have a significantly higher chance of recurrence, yet regular, thorough SSEs are underperformed. Many survivors lack consistent motivation, information, or confidence to examine their skin comprehensively. Existing resources often fail to engage users or provide tailored, actionable support. In addition, scalable digital interventions in cancer survivorship are underutilized, despite their potential to reach large populations at relatively low cost. The need was clear: an engaging, easy-to-use, and scientifically backed solution to help melanoma survivors adopt and sustain routine SSE behaviors.
Solution:
Radiant developed and deployed a web-based app designed to monitor skin health and make self-checking a habit, not a hassle. mySmartSkin (MSS) is a scalable, online/mobile intervention that encourages melanoma survivors to perform regular, thorough SSEs. MSS leverages behavioral science frameworks—specifically the RE-AIM and PRISM models—to guide its development and implementation. The intervention provides educational resources, interactive features, tailored messages, motivational strategies, and tracking tools, all designed to promote user engagement and behavior change.
In its enhanced form, MSS incorporates stakeholder input from survivors, healthcare providers, and implementation experts. These insights have guided the inclusion of diverse media content (videos, quizzes, testimonials), gamification features (badges, rewards), and a customized user profile system that adapts content to the user’s progress and preferences. The content has been mapped to core behavior change constructs such as self-efficacy, perceived risk, and social norms to maximize impact.
Technologies Used:
MSS is designed as a fully automated, interactive digital platform optimized for mobile access. Key technical features include:
- Daily Engagement Prompts: Notifications and interactive tasks tailored to the user’s current status.
- Tailored Messaging System: Personalizes user experience based on engagement, feedback, and progress.
- Media Library: A curated menu of videos, testimonials, and informational content aligned with behavioral constructs.
- Gamification: Visual progress tracking, achievement badges, and other game-like features to enhance motivation.
- Profile System: Customizes goals, messages, and content delivery for individual users.
These components were built upon data and insights from previous pilot studies and are being further refined through a comprehensive usability and implementation evaluation.
Outcomes:
MSS is being tested in an 18-month, randomized trial comparing it with a standard, non-interactive educational website (usual care, or UC). The trial evaluates the program’s effectiveness in increasing thorough SSEs and its implementation potential at scale. Key expected outcomes include:
- Improved SSE Rates: Increased frequency and thoroughness of skin self-examinations among MSS users.
- Early Detection: More melanomas detected at an early stage, improving survival rates.
- Cost-Effectiveness: Lower treatment costs due to early detection and fewer recurrences, with cost-effectiveness measured from health sector, program, and societal perspectives.
MSS also explores broader benefits like life years gained (LYG) and potential for long-term savings via simulation models. Analyses use real-world healthcare utilization data, melanoma treatment costs, and patient-reported time investments to determine the incremental cost per LYG.
Conclusion:
mySmartSkin isn’t just another health app—it’s a support system for skin cancer survivors. The app exemplifies how technology can empower cancer survivors to take charge of their health through behavior change. By combining rigorous science, stakeholder input, and user-centered design, MSS offers a practical and potentially life-saving tool for melanoma survivors. As findings from the ongoing trial emerge, MSS could become a cornerstone in survivorship care—offering a scalable, cost-effective, and impactful solution to improve early detection and reduce melanoma mortality. This initiative stands as a model for how to optimize and scale digital health interventions for broader public health benefit.
