Evaluation of a tailored computerized cervical cancer risk assessment among rural Alabama African American women.

摘要

From a global perspective, cervical cancer remains the second most common cancer among women. Despite the effectiveness of the Pap test, a significant number of women in Alabama and elsewhere in the United States fail to take part in regular screening for cervical cancer.;The Deep South Network for Cancer Control has utilized members from the community to develop a Community Health Advisor (CHA) network. The CHAS contribute to health promotion endeavors by providing great promise for changing behavior in lower-income African American communities.;The purpose of the study was to implement and evaluate an innovative, computerized, interactive cervical cancer risk assessment technique that gives individualized, tailored feedback to African Americans women aged 19 and older in a rural Alabama County that is served by the Deep South Network for Cancer Control. This study assessed the efficacy and feasibility of a computerized, interactive risk assessment administered by the CHAS to increase intent to participate in Pap test screening. It was proposed that by tailoring the feedback specifically to the individuals according to their responses on the survey, women in the tailored group would increase their knowledge of cervical cancer risk, risk factors, and the purpose of a Pap test. In addition, it would increase the women's perceived severity of cervical cancer, perceived susceptibility to cervical cancer, and perceived benefits of obtaining a cervical cancer screening, decrease perceived barriers to obtaining a cervical cancer screening, and finally increase intention to be screened with a Pap test.;Results indicated that women in the tailored group had a statistically significant decrease in their level of perceived barriers compared to the standard group. However, the tailored group did not increase their knowledge of cervical cancer risk and risk factors compared to the standard group, and both groups increased intention to obtaining a cervical cancer screening. Findings from this study extend the body of research on the effectiveness of using a computer-based, tailored multimedia cervical cancer intervention among rural African American women.