Abstract A06: Guided tours of a “Super Colon” increase knowledge and willingness to discuss colon cancer among residents of Appalachian Ohio

Abstract

Abstract Introduction: Due to the elevated colorectal cancer incidence and mortality rate in Appalachia Ohio, the “Blue Star Healthy Colon Initiative” was conducted to provide an interactive format to educate lay community members about colon cancer and colon cancer screening. Methodology: The ‘Super Colon’ walk-through model was set up at two community events in Meigs County Ohio – an Appalachian county. At each event, participants were given tours of the Super Colon exhibit by nurses and public health professionals. Surveys on colon cancer knowledge, screening knowledge, testing intentions, and willingness to discuss colon cancer with others were collected from participants before and after tours. Information on age, colon cancer screening history, and insurance status of participants were also collected via survey before touring the Super Colon. Data were analyzed with X2 tests to compare responses collected before touring the supercolon to responses collected after touring the supercolon. Results: Over the two events, 227 pre-tour and 240 post-tour questionnaires were collected from respondents. The mean age of respondents was 57.0 years, 72.7% were at least fifty years of age, and 72.2% were female, 30.3% received Medicare, 19.2% received Medicaid, 9.2% had no health insurance, and 52.7% of respondents indicated that they had some form of private health insurance--including supplements to Medicare. Of those respondents aged fifty years and older, 76.4% reported receiving encouragement from their doctor to screen for colon cancer, 74.7% reported undergoing a screening test, and 57.6% were up-to-date on colon cancer screening. After viewing the Super Colon, respondents showed improvement in colon cancer knowledge, specifically knowledge about colon polyps (p<0.001), colon cancer (p<0.001), colon cancer progression (p<0.001), colon cancer survival (p<0.001), and colon cancer screening tests (p<0.001). After touring the Supercolon, respondents also reported greater willingness to discuss colon cancer with grandparents (p=0.004), relatives (p<0.001), peers (p<0.001), community members (p<0.001), and people at risk (p<0.001). Discussion/Conclusions: Guided tours of the ‘Super Colon’ walk-through model appear to be effective educational and motivational tools in colon cancer screening promotion in underserved populations. Citation Format: Darla K. Fickle, Katherine E. Randall, Audra L. Jordan, Norma A. Torres, Electra D. Paskett. Guided tours of a “Super Colon” increase knowledge and willingness to discuss colon cancer among residents of Appalachian Ohio. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Seventh AACR Conference on The Science of Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; Nov 9-12, 2014; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2015;24(10 Suppl):Abstract nr A06.