Evaluating an intervention to increase cancer knowledge in racially diverse communities in South Carolina

ObjectiveTo conduct a cancer education intervention with racially diverse communities in South Carolina.MethodsThe study was conducted at eight different sites in six counties in SC. The intervention included a 3-h general cancer knowledge and 30-min prostate cancer knowledge component. Pre- and post-intervention surveys were administered. Maximum scores were 31, 10 and 5 for the general cancer knowledge, prostate cancer knowledge and perceived self-efficacy in patient–physician interaction instruments, respectively. Analyses were completed using SPSS 16.0, SAS 9.1.3, and R v2.6.1.ResultsThe study sample consisted of 164 predominantly African American participants. Most of the participants who reported age were 50+ years (62.5%). Among those who reported income, 46.1% had an annual household income <$40,000. The mean general cancer knowledge pre-test score was 26.2 (standard deviation (SD) 3.7) with a mean post-intervention increase of 2.15 points (p < 0.01). The mean pre-test prostate cancer knowledge score was 7.3 (SD 2.0) with a post-intervention increase of 0.48 points (p < 0.01). Perceived self-efficacy in patient–physician interaction scores had a ceiling effect.ConclusionGeneral cancer knowledge and prostate cancer knowledge scores increased following the intervention.Practice ImplicationsThe intervention was successful in the short-term. It could be continued by community members.