A Brief Educational Intervention Enhances Basic Cancer Literacy Among Kentucky Middle and High School Students

Autor: Chris Prichard, L. Todd Weiss, Robin C. Vanderpool, Lauren Hudson, Jean Edward, Kerrigan M. Samons, Nathan L. Vanderford, Haley Dicken
Rok vydání: 2020
Předmět:
Zdroj: J Cancer Educ
Journal of Cancer Education
ISSN: 1543-0154
0885-8195
DOI: 10.1007/s13187-020-01696-3
Popis: Kentucky experiences the highest overall cancer incidence and mortality rates in the USA with the greatest burden in the eastern, Appalachian region of the state. Cancer disparities in Kentucky are driven in part by poor health behaviors, poverty, lack of health care access, low education levels, and low health literacy. Individuals with inadequate health literacy are less likely to participate in preventive measures such as obtaining screenings and making healthy lifestyle choices, thus increasing their chances of developing and dying from cancer. By increasing cancer literacy among youth and adults, it may be possible to decrease cancer disparities across Kentucky. This study aimed to establish connections with middle and high schools in Kentucky that would facilitate pilot implementation of a brief cancer education intervention and assessment of cancer health literacy among these student populations. A baseline pretest cancer literacy survey consisting of 10 items was given to 349 participants, followed by the delivery of a cancer education presentation. Immediately following the presentation, participants were given a posttest with identical items to the pretest. Participants were primarily Caucasian (89.4%), female (68.7%), and in 10th through 12th grade (80.5%). Significant (p
Databáze: OpenAIRE
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