Breast Cancer Awareness
Conditions
Keywords
Breast cancer awareness, Health education, Digital health literacy, Breast self-examination, Artificial intelligence chatbot
Brief summary
This study compared two educational approaches for increasing breast cancer awareness among female employees of Eskisehir Odunpazari Municipality. Participants were randomly assigned to receive education using artificial intelligence-generated educational material, education using expert-developed educational material, or no educational intervention. Breast cancer awareness was assessed at baseline, immediately after the intervention, and 2 months after the intervention. The study also assessed participants' digital health literacy.
Interventions
BEHAVIORALArtificial Intelligence Chatbot-Generated Educational Material
A structured educational material was generated using an artificial intelligence chatbot and presented through Google Forms in a conversational question-and-answer format. The content was written in plain language appropriate for female municipal employees aged 18 years or older and covered breast cancer risk factors, signs and symptoms, preventive attitudes, barriers to screening, awareness-related health behaviors, breast self-examination, and treatment methods. Participants accessed the predefined material through a link or QR code. No real-time or personalized chatbot interaction occurred. Both the artificial intelligence chatbot-generated educational material and the expert-developed educational material were evaluated by a panel of nine independent experts, comprising four general surgery specialists and five public health specialists.
BEHAVIORALExpert-Developed Educational Material
Breast cancer awareness educational material was developed by the researchers. The material covered breast cancer risk factors, signs and symptoms, preventive attitudes, barriers to screening, awareness-related health behaviors, breast self-examination, and treatment methods. It was evaluated by a panel of nine independent experts, comprising four general surgery specialists and five public health specialists.
Sponsors
Eskisehir Osmangazi University
Odunpazari Municipality
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
PREVENTION
Masking
SINGLE (Subject)
Masking description
Participants were informed about the general purpose of the study but were not informed of their assigned study group or the interventions provided to the other groups.
Intervention model description
This was a three-arm, parallel-group randomized controlled trial. Participants remained in their assigned group throughout the study.
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
FEMALE
Age
18 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
* Female employees actively working within Eskişehir Odunpazarı Municipality * Aged 18 years or older * Literate * Having a smartphone to access the digital educational material * Agreeing to participate in the study
Exclusion criteria
* Previous diagnosis of or treatment for breast cancer * Not having a smartphone * Being a healthcare professional * Not completing the study process
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Breast Cancer Awareness Scale Total Score | Baseline, immediately after the intervention, and 2 months after the intervention. | Overall breast cancer awareness was assessed using the Breast Cancer Awareness Scale, which consists of five subscales. Total scores range from 0 to 102, with higher scores indicating greater overall breast cancer awareness. |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Factor 1:Knowledge of Risk Factors Score | Baseline, immediately after the intervention, and 2 months after the intervention | Knowledge of breast cancer risk factors was assessed using the Knowledge of Risk Factors subscale of the Breast Cancer Awareness Scale. Scores range from 0 to 18, with higher scores indicating greater knowledge of breast cancer risk factors. |
| Factor 2: Knowledge of Signs and Symptoms Score | Baseline, immediately after the intervention, and 2 months after the intervention | Knowledge of breast cancer signs and symptoms was assessed using the Knowledge of Signs and Symptoms subscale of the Breast Cancer Awareness Scale. Scores range from 0 to 16, with higher scores indicating greater knowledge of breast cancer signs and symptoms. |
| Factor 3. Attitudes Toward Breast Cancer Prevention Score | Baseline, immediately after the intervention, and 2 months after the intervention | Attitudes toward breast cancer prevention were assessed using the Attitudes Toward Breast Cancer Prevention subscale of the Breast Cancer Awareness Scale. Scores range from 0 to 24, with higher scores indicating more positive attitudes toward breast cancer prevention |
| Factor 4. Barriers to Breast Cancer Screening Score | Baseline, immediately after the intervention, and 2 months after the intervention | Perceived barriers to breast cancer screening were assessed using the Barriers to Breast Cancer Screening subscale of the Breast Cancer Awareness Scale. Scores range from 0 to 16. Items are reverse-scored, with higher scores indicating fewer perceived barriers to breast cancer screening. |
| Factor 5. Health Behaviors Related to Breast Cancer Awareness Score | Baseline, immediately after the intervention, and 2 months after the intervention | Health behaviors related to breast cancer awareness were assessed using the Health Behaviors Related to Breast Cancer Awareness subscale of the Breast Cancer Awareness Scale. Scores range from 0 to 28, with higher scores indicating more positive health behaviors related to breast cancer awareness. |
| Digital Health Literacy Instrument Total Score | Baseline | Overall digital health literacy was assessed using the 18-item Turkish version of the Digital Health Literacy Instrument, which consists of six subscales. The total mean score ranges from 1 to 4, with higher scores indicating greater digital health literacy. |
| DHLI Search Score | Baseline | Skills related to searching for online health information were assessed using the DHLI Search subscale. Mean scores range from 1 to 4, with higher scores indicating greater information-searching skills. |
| DHLI Content Score | Baseline | Skills related to adding self-generated content to digital health platforms were assessed using the DHLI Content subscale. Mean scores range from 1 to 4, with higher scores indicating greater content-adding skills. |
| DHLI Relevance Score | Baseline | Skills related to determining the relevance of online health information were assessed using the DHLI Relevance subscale. Mean scores range from 1 to 4, with higher scores indicating greater ability to determine the relevance of online health information. |
| DHLI Navigation Score | Baseline | Skills related to navigating online health information and digital health environments were assessed using the DHLI Navigation subscale. Mean scores range from 1 to 4, with higher scores indicating greater navigation skills. |
| DHLI Privacy Score | Baseline | Skills related to protecting personal privacy when using online health resources were assessed using the DHLI Privacy subscale. Mean scores range from 1 to 4, with higher scores indicating greater ability to protect personal privacy. |
| DHLI Reliability Score | Baseline | Skills related to evaluating the reliability of online health information were assessed using the DHLI Reliability subscale. Mean scores range from 1 to 4, with higher scores indicating greater ability to evaluate the reliability of online health information. |
Countries
Turkey (Türkiye)
Contacts
PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOREZGİ SALIŞ, MD
Eskisehir Osmangazi University
Outcome results
None listed