Effectiveness of a cervical cancer prevention program to improve health literacy among Japanese undergraduate females in their 20s: A quasi-experimental study

Abstract

To improve health literacy (HL) regarding cervical cancer prevention, a health program for females in their 20s was previously developed. The present study aimed to examine the effectiveness of that program. We conducted a quasi-experimental study (with control groups) on female undergraduate students in a private university in Japan. In total, 15 and 60 students were categorized into the experimental and control groups, respectively. Intergroup pair-matching using the identified variables yielded a final assessment population of 28 students (n = 14 in each group). The data analysis consisted of group comparisons of the participants between baseline and final assessment using the Wilcoxon signed-rank sum test and McNemar's test. Experimental group comparisons revealed a significant difference in median HL scale scores (baseline, 57.0; final assessment, 66.0; p =.002), median women's health knowledge test scores (baseline, 14.5; final assessment, 16.0; p =.029), and the percentage of participants who felt confident explaining their own body to a medical practitioner (baseline, Y = 14.3, N = 0.0; final assessment, Y = 100.0, N = 0.0; p<.001); however, no significant difference was found for cervical cancer screening behavior. No changes were seen in any of the variables between baseline and final assessment in the control group. These results indicated that our program was effective for improving HL, confidence in explaining one's own body to a medical practitioner, and women's health knowledge test scores, but not for changing cervical cancer screening behaviors. Further research is needed to determine how to provide more appropriate health programs for females in their 20s.