Effects of a cancer prevention education program on elementary school students' knowledge, attitude, self-efficacy, and intentions in South Korea
- Author:
Su Yeon KYE
1
;
Soon Yong HWANG
;
Kyung Hee OH
;
Jae Kwan JUN
Author Information
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords: Cancer prevention education; Elementary school; Program evaluation; Quasi-experimental design
- MeSH: Adolescent; Child; Education; Humans; Intention; Korea; Music; Program Evaluation
- From:Epidemiology and Health 2019;41(1):2019027-
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
- Abstract: OBJECTIVES: Most children and adolescents have low levels of cancer knowledge and awareness, and infrequently engage in preventive behaviors. This study examined the effects of a short classroom-based intervention for cancer prevention on knowledge, attitude toward cancer preventability, self-efficacy, and behavioral intentions of fifth-grade elementary school students.METHODS: The study was based on a pre-post-follow-up, 2-group, quasi-experimental design. Participants in the intervention group attended two 40-minute sessions on cancer prevention education and watched a music video about cancer prevention, while participants in the control group were only exposed to the music video. Self-reported knowledge, attitude toward cancer preventability, self-efficacy, and behavioral intentions were assessed 1 week pre-intervention and post-intervention, as well as 3 months post-intervention.RESULTS: The 3-month post-intervention results revealed partial effects, indicating that the education intervention improved knowledge and attitudes toward cancer preventability; however, no effects were observed on self-efficacy and behavioral intentions 3 months after the intervention.CONCLUSIONS: Long-term regular booster sessions are required to improve not only social-cognitive factors, but also behavioral intentions, which could result in behavior changes promoting cancer prevention.
