Congress Abstracts 2005

7

AN INTERVENTION TO INFLUENCE KNOWLEDGE, HEALTH BELIEFS, AND INTENTION TO SCREEN IN PERSONS AT INCREASED RISK FOR COLON CANCER. Kristin Zawacki Seidl, PhD, RN, and Ann Marie Codori, PhD, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the second leading cause of cancer death in the U.S., but it is preventable if found in the pre-malignant stage of polyps. Screening tools are effective, but less than half of Americans over age 50 have been screened according to recommendations, and screening habits in those at increased risk have not been consistently described.

The purpose of this project was to evaluate the effects of a study-developed, targeted intervention on knowledge level, health beliefs, and intention to screen in first-degree relatives (FDRs) of CRC patients.

The Preventive Health Model was used to guide this study. Theoretical models of health behavior maintain that health beliefs influence actual behaviors, such as screening. Therefore, influencing health beliefs should theoretically change health behavior and screening practices.

This study used a randomized, repeated measures, factorial design with the following intervention groups: (1) control group, (2) targeted booklet group, (3) telephone informational session group, and (4) combined targeted booklet and telephone informational group. Measurement included nine knowledge-based questions, three visual analog scales, and the Rawl Scales for Perceived Susceptibility, Benefits, and Barriers. Data were collected at baseline and two weeks after intervention delivery. Ninety FDRs completed data collection.

Three separate repeated measures ANOVAs were conducted to evaluate the outcome variables of knowledge level, perceived risk and belief in preventability. Fisher’s Exact test was used to compare intention to screen between groups.

Participants who received the targeted intervention had significantly higher scores in knowledge (p = 0.007) and belief in preventability (p = 0.005) than control group participants at the 2-week follow-up. Of the participants who needed a colonoscopy within the next year, those who received the targeted intervention were more likely to state that they intended to undergo colonoscopy screening within the next year than participants in the control group who needed a colonoscopy (p = 0.004). Future studies should continue to examine the relationships between knowledge, health beliefs, intention to screen, and actual behavior as it relates to CRC screening.

Funding Sources: ONS Small Grant sponsored in part by Bristol-Myers Squibb Oncology