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Learning about pap smears: an educational skit for Hispanic adolescents
Reva A Richardson1, Wanjiku Njoroge, Graciela G Wilcox
1Jackson Memorial Medical Center Program, University of Miami, School of Medicine, Dept of Pediatrics, Miami, FL, USA.
Journal of Pediatric and Adolescent Gynecology
|December 3, 2002
Summary
An educational skit improved Pap smear knowledge and intent in Hispanic high school females. While not causally proven, skit viewing was linked to increased Pap smear scheduling, showing potential for cervical cancer prevention education.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Health Education
- Cervical Cancer Prevention
Background:
- Pap smears are crucial for early cervical cancer detection.
- Targeted educational interventions can improve screening behaviors.
- Adolescent females may have unique barriers to Pap smear screening.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate an educational skit's effectiveness in enhancing Pap smear knowledge.
- To assess the skit's impact on decision-making and behavior regarding Pap smear acquisition.
Main Methods:
- A preintervention/postintervention survey design with 92 Hispanic high school female volunteers.
- Data collected at three time points: before, immediately after, and seven weeks post-intervention.
- Intervention involved a 15-minute live, English-language educational skit.
Main Results:
- Knowledge about Pap smears significantly increased post-skit (P < 0.00001) and was retained at seven weeks.
- Viewing the skit was associated with 29% of participants scheduling or undergoing a Pap smear.
- Perceived risk for cancer among females of similar age increased significantly post-skit (P = 0.0001).
Conclusions:
- The educational skit effectively improved and maintained knowledge regarding Pap smears.
- Findings support the skit's potential to influence Pap smear screening behavior.
- Further research with larger, comparative groups is recommended to establish causality.