The Impact of Health Information Provision on Breast Cancer-Related Knowledge and Protective Behaviors: An Experiment in Health Education

Abstract

This study examines the impact of health information provision on healthrelated knowledge and corresponding behaviors. Our main assumption is that women’s health can be improved by adopting health protective and healthenhancing behaviors. The study employs a before–after, no-control-group design, aimed at examining whether exposure to health knowledge concerning breast cancer can change participants’ behavior in relation to breast self-examination. Our sample consists of 50 young females whose knowledge and behavior related to breast cancer was assessed in a pre-exposure phase, followed by an exposure session during which they were shown a video film, participated in a discussion, and were given health education literature about breast cancer to take home. Two weeks later, the participants were reassessed, using the same measures. Their health knowledge and behavior were found to have improved significantly. We recommend that formal education should incorporate health education as part of the curricula at all academic levels, especially for women. The mass media can also play an important role in improving public health protective behavior.