Outcomes of the Learn, Share & Live breast cancer education program for older urban women

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: This study assessed whether the Learn, Share & Live breast cancer education program resulted in favorable, replicable, and sustainable outcomes. METHODS: The program was implemented at index (year 1) and replication (year 2) sites. Baseline interviews (year 1; n = 240) and 2 follow-up telephone interviews (years 2 and 3; n = 337 and 323) were used to assess postintervention changes. RESULTS: From baseline to year 2, mammography adherence and stage of adoption improved at the index site relative to the replication site. Knowledge scores and percentages of respondents reporting that a friend had spoken with them about mammography improved significantly. Improvements were sustained through year 3 (2 years postintervention). In year 3, replication participants showed improvements in regard to knowledge and perceived mammography benefits, and there was a trend toward increased adherence. Site differences in postintervention adherence may have stemmed from respective choices of follow-up activities. CONCLUSIONS: The study outcomes affirm the impact of Learn, Share & Live, indicating a replicated and sustained program effect. Future studies should continue longer follow-up and explore the importance of providing mammography opportunities along with education.

Peer support of complex health behaviors in prevention and disease management with special reference to diabetes: systematic reviews

“…This restriction was not based on any supposed lack of importance of these other applications of PS, but only on recognition that PS interventions and factors key to their success may be very different in the two arenas. Evidence indicates effects of PS in screening, [ 28 , 105 , 106 ] effects that complement those identified here.…”

“…Although PS may be very valuable in these areas, [28] behaviorally these represent very different tasks. Additionally, community organization or capacity building were not inclusion criteria.…”

“…We have not included PS interventions addressing relatively isolated or single behaviors, e.g., screening or inoculations or short-term medication compliance. Although PS may be very valuable in these areas, [ 28 ] behaviorally these represent very different tasks. Additionally, community organization or capacity building were not inclusion criteria.…”

Interventions to promote cancer awareness and early presentation: systematic review

“…For two of the studies (the Swedish study of the melanoma interactive multimedia programme, Kiekbusch et al , 2000, and the US study of the breast cancer educational programme, Skinner et al , 2000), the researchers used only one control area. The public education campaign selected two control cities (Blumenthal et al , 2005) and the UK study of the testicular cancer initiative selected four control sites (McCullagh et al , 2005).…”

“…The studies of the educational programme for breast cancer in the United States and the UK health promotion initiative for testicular cancer found modest increases in knowledge, the first an increase in average breast cancer knowledge score of about 6% after 8 months (Skinner et al , 2000) and the second an increase in average testicular cancer knowledge score of 20% after 6 weeks (McCullagh et al , 2005). …”