Abstract A44: Feasibility study for technology-based cancer education for Latina women from an agricultural community
Authors: Barnes Laura E. , Rivera Maria , Meade Cathy D. , Proctor Sara K. , Gutierrez Liliana M. , Wells Kristen J. 
Published: June 2012

Introduction: Interactive, technology-driven health education programs improve on passive communication of health information by allowing users to interact with educational information in a highly visual manner. These interventions have not been fully explored or disseminated widely to vulnerable populations and few are available in Spanish. This study examines the feasibility of implementing a low-literacy, user friendly, interactive computer program for the delivery of cervical cancer education to primarily Spanish-speaking Latina women from an agricultural community in rural central Florida.

Methods: Study participants were recruited from the waiting room at Catholic Mobile Medical Services, a faith-based community primary care clinic in Dover, Florida. A bilingual research coordinator interviewed participants regarding their prior experience with computers, reasons for computer use, whether they have accessed health information on a computer, and their willingness to use a computer to get health information if they were taught how. Subsequently, they were shown a video depicting a computer program with health information delivered by an embodied conversational agent. Embodied conversational agents (ECAs) are computer characters that can simulate face-to-face conversation with an actual person and embody a person in appearance, behavior and dialect. The video was paused periodically for translation into Spanish. When the video presentation was completed, participants were asked a series of open-ended questions regarding their reactions to the ECA-delivered program. Data were recorded by the research coordinator using a standardized form and summarized descriptively.

Results: A total of 26 women participated in the study, all of whom spoke Spanish. One hundred percent of participants responded positively to the concept of the computer program, method of health information delivery, and stated they would trust information obtained through a similar educational program. Most women (69.2%) interviewed had a family member who used a computer in their home, half already had a computer in their home, and a minority (38.5%) had never used a computer before. Approximately one third (30.8%) of the women also reported utilizing a computer more than twice a week. Women who reported computer usage indicated that the most common reasons they used a computer were information seeking and checking e-mail. Half of the women interviewed said they had used a computer to obtain health information. Furthermore, half the women had used their cellular telephones to access the internet. Some of the descriptive terms the women used to describe the ECA-delivered program were: “Fabulous”, “Awesome”, “Useful”, “Practical”, “Fast” and “Helpful”. The only criticism of the computer program was that it seemed too robotic and was outdated in regards to the appearance and voices. Many women also agreed that such a program could assist women in preparing themselves and reducing anxiety before a Pap test or gynecological exam. Women also suggested including the following topics for future education: changes in menstrual cycle and menopause, sexually transmitted infections, breast and cervical cancer, exercise, nutrition, and disease prevention.

Conclusions: The results of this study suggest that technology-based cancer education for primarily Spanish-speaking Latina women from an agricultural community is feasible, and user acceptance is high. Women feel that computer programs could help them learn about their health. The data from this study will be used to inform the design and development of an interactive ECA program to deliver education about cervical cancer and the human papillomavirus.

Citation Information: Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2011;20(10 Suppl):A44.