Center for Excellence in Rural Health, University of Kentucky, Hazard, KY 41701, USA.
Soc Work Health Care. 2012;51(5):430-40. doi: 10.1080/00981389.2012.657296.
The purpose of this study was to examine the effectiveness of a community health worker (CHW)-delivered cancer education program designed to increase knowledge and awareness of colorectal cancer screening options. The study population was an extremely vulnerable and medically underserved geographic region in Appalachian Kentucky. CHWs enrolled participants in face-to-face visits, obtained informed consent, and administered a baseline assessment of knowledge of colorectal cancer risks and the benefits of screening and screening history. An educational intervention was then provided and participants were re-contacted 6 months later when a posttest was administered. The mean score of the 637 participants increased from 4.27 at baseline to 4.57 at follow-up (p < .001). Participants who reported asking their health care provider about colorectal cancer screening increased from 27.6% at baseline to 34.1% at follow-up (p = .013). Results suggest that CHWs were very effective at maintaining the study population; no loss to follow-up occurred. The results also showed increased knowledge and awareness about colorectal cancer screening education. Implications for social work practice, policy and research are discussed.
本研究旨在检验社区卫生工作者（CHW）提供的癌症教育计划的有效性，该计划旨在提高对结直肠癌筛查选择的知识和认识。研究对象是阿巴拉契亚肯塔基州一个极其脆弱和医疗服务不足的地理区域。CHW 通过面对面的访问招募参与者，获得知情同意，并对结直肠癌风险以及筛查和筛查史的益处的知识进行基线评估。然后提供教育干预，6 个月后再次联系参与者进行随访测试。637 名参与者的平均分数从基线时的 4.27 分增加到随访时的 4.57 分（p<0.001）。报告向医疗保健提供者询问结直肠癌筛查的参与者从基线时的 27.6%增加到随访时的 34.1%（p=0.013）。结果表明，CHW 非常有效地维持了研究人群；没有出现随访流失的情况。结果还表明，对结直肠癌筛查教育的知识和认识有所提高。讨论了对社会工作实践、政策和研究的影响。
