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Small-Scale School-Based Cancer Education to Improve Awareness and Risk Reduction Knowledge Among Adolescents: A
Nia Imani Bailey1, Jenna Bucolo1, Katelyn Bucolo1
1Byrd Cancer Education and Advocacy Foundation, Drexel Hill, PA 19026, USA.
Summary
A pilot study found that a brief, school-based cancer education program significantly improved adolescent cancer literacy. This intervention shows promise for long-term cancer risk reduction in young people.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Public Health
- Adolescent Health
Background:
- Rising cancer incidence in adolescents necessitates proactive risk reduction strategies.
- Cancer risk reduction education is notably absent from current school curricula.
- Early, age-appropriate interventions are crucial for establishing lifelong healthy habits.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the effectiveness of a brief, school-based cancer education intervention in improving adolescent cancer literacy.
- To evaluate a low-resource, easily implementable model for delivering cancer education in middle schools.
- To support long-term cancer risk reduction through enhanced knowledge and awareness.
Main Methods:
- Convergent parallel mixed-methods pre-post design.
- Two 45-minute school-based cancer education sessions for 24 middle school students.
- Content included cancer biology, risk factors, genetics, HPV vaccination, and self-advocacy.
- Pre- and post-intervention surveys assessed knowledge, awareness, and perceptions, analyzed descriptively and thematically.
Main Results:
- Significant improvements in cancer literacy across all assessed domains.
- Correct cancer definition increased from 16% to 100%.
- Awareness of modifiable risk factors (96%), sunscreen use (90%), genetic testing (83%), and HPV vaccination (57%) substantially increased.
- Students reported greater confidence in symptom recognition and health-seeking behaviors.
Conclusions:
- Small-scale, school-based cancer education interventions are feasible and effective for adolescents.
- The findings support the development of larger, controlled studies to examine long-term outcomes.
- Implementing such programs can empower youth with knowledge for cancer risk reduction.
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