Technologic advances have made individually tailored print communication a reality. However, the applications to and implications for culturally diverse communities have not been explored. The Pathfinders study has developed and is evaluating printed Personal Health Guides as part of a multi-dimensional intervention to increase access to care and periodic breast and cervical cancer screening among African American, Chinese, Filipino, Latino, and White women in Alameda County, California. The Guides are produced and updated every six months as part of an NCI-funded, three-year randomized controlled trial with a cohort of 1500 women. The Guides are tailored: culturally (cultural themes are used to frame key health messages, and graphics include cultural icons and ethnic-specific photos); linguistically (produced in recipient’s choice of Chinese, English, Spanish or Tagalog); by adoption stage (messages address each woman’s adoption stage for mammography and Pap testing based on the Transtheoretic Model in addition as well as her specific attitudes and barriers); by health insurance status; and personally (addressing each woman by name). For low literate recipients, audio tapes that read the Guide are also mailed. The methods used to develop the Guides will be discussed. Preliminary data will also be presented from a six-month post-test interview of women who received the Guide and those in the control group. This analysis will include changes in screening adoption stage (Transtheoretic Model), and decisional balance (ratio of positive to negative attitudes toward screening). Ethnic differences in recall and satisfaction with the Guides will be reported.
Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session, the participant (learner) in this session will be able to: 1. Learn the steps in the process of tailoring print material for cultural appropriateness in a multi-ethnic, multi-lingual sample of women. 2. Hear preliminary results on the impact of tailored print material (on cancer screening practices and attitudes, as well as recall and satisfaction) from a randomized trial of 1500 women
Keywords: Cancer Screening, Ethnicity
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.