[Acquiring and maintaining knowledge about cancer from a healthcare audit system in adolescents]

Cancer is one of the leading causes of death in all ages. Promoting knowledge about the disease and its risk factors in adolescents can contribute to adopting healthy lifestyles in adulthood.

To evaluate the acquisition of knowledge about cancer and its retention over time in a group of adolescents, after the implementation of a healthcare audit system.

A before and after, quasi-experimental study was carried out, in adolescents from an urban secondary school in Ciego de Ávila (Cuba), between September 2017 and July 2018. The study consisted of 145 students between 12 and 15 years of age. The study was carried out in three stages: diagnosis, design and intervention, and evaluation (immediate and at six months). At six months, participants were compared with 73 other adolescents (control group) that had not received the audit system.

More than two-thirds (69%) of adolescents reported not having received information about cancer or its risk factors, and a large majority (77.2%) considering the need to receive it. By applying the designed audit system, the mean score of the participating group increased (5.08±0.27 vs. 7.0±1.51; P<.01). At six months of evaluation, significant maintenance of the knowledge acquired was achieved (7.0±1.51 vs. 5.98±1.73; P<.01), despite the mean being lower than the first stage.

The health audit system managed to satisfy learning needs and light maintenance of knowledge in students six months after its application, and is considered a tool for health promotion and its application is recommended in other settings and areas where conditions allow it.