Mobile phone text messaging intervention for cervical cancer screening: changes in knowledge and behavior pre-post...

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Health Behavior
• Mobile Health

Background:

• Korean American women face disproportionately high cervical cancer mortality rates.
• This demographic exhibits the lowest Pap test screening rates among US ethnic groups.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and test a mobile phone text message-based intervention (mScreening) to increase Pap test screening among young Korean American women.
• To assess the acceptability and feasibility of the mScreening intervention.

Main Methods:

• A 7-day, individually tailored text message intervention (mScreening) was developed based on Fogg's Behavior Model.
• A quasi-experimental design with 30 Korean American women (ages 21-29) included baseline, post, and 3-month follow-up assessments.
• Focus groups informed intervention development, with messages delivered at participants' preferred times.

Main Results:

• Significant increases in knowledge of cervical cancer and screening guidelines were observed (P<.001).
• 23% of participants received a Pap test within 3 months.
• The intervention showed excellent acceptability, with 83% satisfaction and 97% recommendation rates.

Conclusions:

• The mScreening intervention is effective and feasible for increasing cervical cancer screening knowledge and receipt.
• Mobile technology offers a promising, low-cost approach to reach underserved populations with tailored health messages.
• This mHealth strategy can overcome time and place barriers, improving screening rates in vulnerable groups.