Understanding Breast Changes: An Inupiaq-English Radio Show to Encourage Breast Cancer Screening

Introduction: The Task Force on Community Preventive Services finds strong evidence to support the use of multi-component interventions that include media, education, and enhanced access to improve cancer screening. Radio shows are an effective tool to promote breast cancer screening to Alaska Native women. An Alaska Rural Media Survey indicates 72% of statewide respondents are daily radio listeners. In Alaska, 33% of listeners to the arctic region's only radio station speak Inupiaq, a first language for many women at the recommended ages for mammography. Methods: The Cancer Information Service (CIS) and Arctic Slope Native Association (ASNA)'s Screening for Life Program collaborated on a one hour live cancer education radio show. This Inupiaq- English broadcast aired on KBRW in Barrow on October 3, 2007. The goal was to inform Alaska Native women about common breast changes, the importance of screening, and promote an upcoming mammography clinic. Radio guests included two CIS staff and ASNA's director, a physician assistant, an Inupiaq translator, and a survivor. CIS developed a script using core messages in the NCI publication Understanding Breast Changes and worked with the translator to ensure accurate health messages. Live call-in questions were answered. Findings: An evaluation was given to listeners at an open house after the radio show. Eighty eight women received a mammogram at a Nov. 2007 screening event and calls to CIS are anticipated to increase. Conclusion: Using a multi-component intervention that includes radio is an effective and affordable strategy to promote breast cancer screening to medically underserved women.