Tasi le Ola a radio drama focused on breast cancer prevention for women in American Samoa

Importance:

Prior research documents the presentation of late stage cancers at diagnosis for Samoan women. Community members continue to practice Samoan healing methods as complementary or alternative therapy to cancer care. This project focused on examining women's beliefs and practices regarding Samoan healing in regards to breast care. The radio drama helped to address these beliefs to encourage women to screen for prevention and detection for behavior changes.

Method:

This project aimed for high levels of community participation. Data was compiled from primary research survey of knowledge-attitudes-behaviors regarding complementary and alternative medicine were transcribed and analyzed. The formative research results were shared with key stakeholders, which included healthcare provider, traditional Samoan healers, cancer survivors, and media representatives. Stakeholders completed activities documenting their own experience to decide main health promotion messages, and outline character profiles for realistic plot situations to convey health messages. A creative brief was developed, based on formative research results with key stakeholder input to enable the writing team to draft Samoan and English Script for five, ten-minute radio serial drama episodes. Final scripts were recorded by an all-volunteer cast and edited by project staff. Community members were encouraged to develop the theme song and a community kick off promoted the radio drama. The kick-off included information booths hosted by community partners, and activities that encouraged women to make their health their priority, in addition to listening to Tasi Le Ola.

Data:

After final airing of the radio drama non-random, convenience sample, self-administered with target population, women.