Telenovela: an innovative colorectal cancer screening health messaging tool.
BACKGROUND
Alaska Native people have nearly twice the rate of colorectal cancer (CRC) incidence and mortality as the US White population.


OBJECTIVE
Building upon storytelling as a culturally respectful way to share information among Alaska Native people, a 25-minute telenovela-style movie, What's the Big Deal?, was developed to increase CRC screening awareness and knowledge, role-model CRC conversations, and support wellness choices.


METHODS
Alaska Native cultural values of family, community, storytelling, and humor were woven into seven, 3-4 minute movie vignettes. Written post-movie viewing evaluations completed by 71.3% of viewers (305/428) were collected at several venues, including the premiere of the movie in the urban city of Anchorage at a local movie theater, seven rural Alaska community movie nights, and five cancer education trainings with Community Health Workers. Paper and pencil evaluations included check box and open-ended questions to learn participants' response to a telenovela-style movie.


RESULTS
On written-post movie viewing evaluations, viewers reported an increase in CRC knowledge and comfort with talking about recommended CRC screening exams. Notably, 81.6% of respondents (249/305) wrote positive intent to change behavior. Multiple responses included: 65% talking with family and friends about colon screening (162), 24% talking with their provider about colon screening (59), 31% having a colon screening (76), and 44% increasing physical activity (110).


CONCLUSIONS
Written evaluations revealed the telenovela genre to be an innovative way to communicate colorectal cancer health messages with Alaska Native, American Indian, and Caucasian people both in an urban and rural setting to empower conversations and action related to colorectal cancer screening. Telenovela is a promising health communication tool to shift community norms by generating enthusiasm and conversations about the importance of having recommended colorectal cancer screening exams.
Community Health Aide Program, Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium, Anchorage, AK 99508, USA. mcueva@anthc.org
Melany
M
Cueva
Regina
R
Kuhnley
Jozieta
J
Slatton
Mark
M
Dignan
Emily
E
Underwood
Kate
K
Landis
D000413:Alaska; D001110:Arctic Regions; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000208:ethnology; D003142:Communication; D054521:Cultural Competency; D055088:Early Detection of Cancer; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D007198:Indians, North American; D004930:Inuit; D009040:Motion Pictures; D044465:White People
Alaska Native; Community Health Workers; colorectal cancer screening; health communication; storytelling; telenovela