Australian Research Centre in Sex, Health and Society, La Trobe University, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
Centre for Social Impact, University of New South Wales, Kensington, NSW, Australia.
Health Promot J Austr. 2023 Feb;34(1):246-254. doi: 10.1002/hpja.635. Epub 2022 Jul 18.
In Australia, cancer is the leading contributor to disease burden, with breast and bowel cancer among the most commonly diagnosed cancers. Despite the presence of community-wide health promotion activities and screening programs, people living in regional and rural locations experience a number of factors that reduce breast and bowel cancer survival outcomes. This study investigates the ways that high-risk community members in a regional area of Australia interact with health messaging about breast and bowel cancer screening.
A qualitative research method was used to conduct 31 in-depth one-on-one interviews with community members, leaders and essential service providers. A thematic approach was used to analyse data.
Findings provided insight to the ways that health is spoken about within the community, what prompts discussion of health, trustworthy sources of health information and the significance of peer-to-peer communication.
Existing community communication lines can be used to assist in delivering public health messages among high-risk and vulnerable population groups. Utilising community ambassadors is identified as a health promotion method for hard-to-reach populations. SO WHAT?: Conversations about health and screening amongst community members, and led by community members, play a key role in shaping engagement with cancer screening programs and represent an important site for health promotion activities. These findings have implications for future public health initiatives amongst high-risk groups in regional locations.
在澳大利亚，癌症是导致疾病负担的主要原因，其中乳腺癌和肠癌是最常见的诊断癌症。尽管存在社区范围的健康促进活动和筛查计划，但居住在地区和农村地区的人们面临着许多降低乳腺癌和肠癌生存结果的因素。本研究调查了澳大利亚一个地区的高风险社区成员与乳腺癌和肠癌筛查健康信息的互动方式。
采用定性研究方法对社区成员、领导人和基本服务提供者进行了 31 次深入的一对一访谈。采用主题方法分析数据。
研究结果提供了关于社区内健康话题的讨论方式、健康话题讨论的触发因素、可信的健康信息来源以及同伴间交流的重要性的见解。
现有的社区沟通渠道可以用于帮助向高风险和弱势群体群体传递公共卫生信息。确定利用社区大使作为针对难以接触的人群的健康促进方法。
社区成员之间、并由社区成员主导的健康和筛查讨论，在塑造对癌症筛查计划的参与方面发挥着关键作用，代表了健康促进活动的重要场所。这些发现对未来在地区的高风险群体中开展公共卫生倡议具有影响。
