Development and Evaluation of a Cancer Literacy Intervention to Promote Mammography Screening Among Navajo Women: A Pilot Study.

PURPOSE

Develop and evaluate a mammography intervention that provides hope about cancer prevention and treatment.

DESIGN

Pilot randomized controlled trial.

SETTING

Two communities on the Navajo Nation.

PARTICIPANTS

Navajo women and support persons.

INTERVENTION

Both groups received standard care: one home visit discussing mammography pros/cons and barriers. The treatment group received an intervention based on Navajo language via an additional home visit with health education materials (written and oral) in English and Navajo, including a Navajo Cancer Glossary with a new descriptive phrase for cancer.

ANALYSIS

Between control and intervention conditions, we compared baseline sociodemographics; changes from baseline to 3 months on mammography completion and breast cancer literacy scores.

MEASURES

(1) intervention feasibility; (2) self- and clinic-reported mammography screening completion; (3) breast cancer literacy.

RESULTS

A total of 25 participants were randomly assigned (13 treatment, 12 control), with 7 support persons in each arm. Mean age was 53 years, 90% had a high school degree or higher, 86% spoke Navajo and English. At 3 months, 44% had a clinically verified mammogram. Mammography completion was 57% among those with a support person and 27% among those without ( = .14). Intervention women reported more breast cancer beliefs consistent with mammography ( = .015).

CONCLUSIONS

Increases in breast cancer beliefs consistent with mammography show promise. Findings highlight a need to tailor education materials to Navajo culture/language and focus on enhancing support.