A randomised trial to demonstrate the effectiveness of electronic messages on sun protection behaviours

•Our aim was to improve sun protection habits of a volunteer sample.•We conducted a randomised, controlled trial of an electronic text-message system.•Motivation to adhere to sunscreen use improved at a nearly significant level.•The intervention group used sunscreens more often than the other groups.•Our intervention is a cost-effective method and it can easily be implemented. Message exposure is effective at changing a variety of health behaviours. Our aim was to improve sun protection habits of a volunteer sample. We conducted a randomised, non-blinded, investigator-initiated trial (from 1st June to 31st August in 2011) on the effect of an electronic text-message system on sun protection behaviours. The assessments of 149 healthy volunteer participants took place at the Clinical Department of Dermatology and Allergology at the University of Szeged in Hungary. Psychological and medical assessments were also made. Total motivation scores for adherence to sunscreen use improved at a nearly significant level (t=−1.954, p=0.054). The intervention group used sunscreens more often than the other groups according to their sun exposure diaries (F=8.173, p