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Impact of a Cancer Health Education Curriculum Among Milwaukee Public High School Students. J Cancer Educ 2023 Jun;38(3):1034-1041

Date

10/18/2022

Pubmed ID

36251146

DOI

10.1007/s13187-022-02228-x

Scopus ID

2-s2.0-85140023174 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site)   1 Citation

Abstract

In Milwaukee and nationwide, cancer incidence, late-stage diagnosis, and mortality are notably higher among some racial/ethnic populations. Cancer education has the potential to impact cancer burden and reduce cancer disparities. In particular, the addition of a service-learning component to academic curriculums has been shown to improve student learning as well as positively impact the surrounding community. This study implemented a cancer health education curriculum (CHEC) at a Milwaukee public high school with the goal of addressing cancer knowledge, fear and fatalism beliefs, and risk behaviors. The curriculum included interactive learning sessions and a service-learning final project. Five-hundred twenty-one students also completed pre- and post-surveys assessing cancer knowledge, fear and fatalism, risk behaviors, cancer-related communication, and a qualitative question asking what they hoped to gain (pre) or did gain (post) from the course. Results indicate (1) a significant improvement in cancer knowledge (p < 0.0001), (2) a decrease in cancer fear and fatalism (p < 0.0001), (3) an increase in fruit consumption (p < 0.0001), (4) a decrease in screen time (p = 0.0004), and (5) an increase in how often students spoke with their family about cancer (p < 0.0001). Qualitative data reflect important gains such as increased interest in sharing their knowledge about cancer with their community. Providing cancer education and leveraging a service-learning requirement led to notable changes in high school students' cancer knowledge, fear and fatalism, and risk behaviors. Students also communicated more with family/friends about cancer. Such efforts could have broader implications for student, family, and community cancer burden.

Author List

Kerschner A, Jensik K, Berg D, Visotcky A, Banerjee A, Stolley M

Authors

Anjishnu Banerjee PhD Associate Professor in the Data Science Institute department at Medical College of Wisconsin
Melinda Stolley PhD Center Associate Director, Professor in the Medicine department at Medical College of Wisconsin




MESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold

Curriculum
Education, Nursing
Health Education
Humans
Neoplasms
Students