A randomized controlled study of short-term and long-term effects of tailored information versus general information on intention and behavior related to early detection of cancer.
The effects of computer-tailored information and general information on passive detection (i.e., being alert to cancer symptoms) and help-seeking intention (i.e., consulting a physician with possible cancer symptoms within an appropriate time) were assessed and compared with those in a control group, in a randomized controlled study with a pretest and two posttests. Shortly after the intervention, significant differences between the study groups were found in passive detection and help-seeking intention. Six months after the intervention, there were still differences between the tailored information group and the control group in passive detection and help-seeking intention. We conclude that there were very positive effects of the tailored intervention on passive detection and help-seeking intentions and behaviors in the short term, but additional research is needed to assess ways of maintaining these effects in the long term.
de Nooijer
Jascha
J
Department of Health Education and Promotion, Maastricht University, The Netherlands. j.denooyer@gvo.unimaas.nl
Lechner
Lilian
L
Candel
Math
M
de Vries
Hein
H
D000328:Adult; D001519:Behavior; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016247:Information Storage and Retrieval; D033182:Intention; D008297:Male; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013995:Time; D013997:Time Factors