Training Appalachian Kentucky Youth Cancer Advocates

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Cancer Research
• Health Disparities

Background:

• Kentucky faces the highest cancer incidence and mortality rates in the U.S.
• Appalachian Kentucky bears a disproportionately high burden of cancer
• Cancer advocacy is a potential strategy to reduce cancer cases in the region

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the impact of advocacy training and experiential learning on high school students' cancer advocacy attitudes and self-efficacy in Appalachian Kentucky.
• To assess changes in attitudes and self-efficacy following participation in the Appalachian Career Training in Oncology (ACTION) Program.

Main Methods:

• A mixed-methods, one-group repeated measure design was employed with 9 participants from the ACTION Program.
• Advocacy attitudes and self-efficacy were measured before and after a training intervention and an advocacy event.

Main Results:

• No substantial changes in students' advocacy attitudes or self-efficacy were observed post-training and event participation.
• Students expressed a desire to influence state legislators but were concerned about community apathy towards cancer advocacy.

Conclusions:

• Youth can be significant agents in addressing Kentucky's cancer burden.
• Initial training may lead to an overestimation of advocacy abilities; further training is needed to enhance self-efficacy.
• Additional training should focus on encouraging story-sharing and addressing perceived barriers to effective advocacy.