Researchers
Dr. Elisia L. Cohen (Department of Communication, University of Kentucky)
Dr. Robin C. Vanderpool (College of Public Health, University of Kentucky)
Katharine J. Head (Doctoral Student, Department of Communication, University of Kentucky)
Purpose
Rural Appalachian Kentucky suffers from some of the highest cervical cancer rates in the country. Two health behaviors - HPV vaccination and regular Pap testing - can aid in reducing this health burden. Despite this, many young adult women in this area do not perform these behaviors. As part of the Rural Cancer Prevention Center's ongoing efforts to reduce the cancer burden in rural Appalachian Kentucky, this project used extensive formative research to develop a DVD-based counseling program to promote receipt of the HPV vaccine as well as regular Pap testing.
Theoretical Implications
The Integrated Behavioral Model identifies important antecedents to health behavior including knowledge, beliefs, and attitudes about the behavior, as well as norms, personal agency, environmental constraints, and behavioral intention. Using this framework, extensive formative research was conducted with the target population of young adult women living in Appalachian Kentucky to identify the unique barriers and facilitators to adopting the two behaviors. The DVD was then developed to address these issues, such that the messages were targeted at these women.
Practical Implications
This project sought to identify theoretically-informed, scalable ways to reduce the cervical cancer burden in this area. The DVD intervention is currently being tested in a randomized controlled trial in a clinical setting. Early results are promising and future work will build on this successful project to develop similar interventions.
Publications or Presentations
Cohen, E.L. & Head, K.J. (2012). Identifying knowledge-attitude-practice gaps to enhance HPV vaccine diffusion. Accepted for publication in Journal of Health Communication.
Head, K.J. & Cohen, E.L. (2012). Young women's perspectives on cervical cancer prevention in Appalachian Kentucky. Qualitative Health Research, 22, 476-487. doi: 10.1177/1049732311425053
Cohen, E.L., Vanderpool, R.C., Crosby, R., Noar, S.M., Bates, W., Collins, T., Head, K.J., & Casey, B. (under contract). 1-2-3 Pap: An HPV prevention campaign to reduce cervical cancer in Eastern Kentucky. In Kreps, G.L., & Dutta, M.J. (Eds.). Reducing health disparities: Communication interventions. Cresskill, NJ: Hampton Pres
Head, K.J., Cohen, E.L., & McGladrey, M.L. (2011, November). Young women's perspectives on cervical cancer prevention in Appalachian Kentucky: Insight from the integrated behavioral model. Presented at the 97th Annual National Communication Association Conference, New Orleans, LA.
McGladrey, M.L., Cohen, E.L., & Head, K.J. (2011, May) Role reversal: Using "engaged elicitation" methods to empower focus group participants from underserved populations. Presented as a poster at the 61st Annual International Communication Association Conference, Boston, MA.
Vanderpool, R.C., Crosby, R.A., Bates, W., Jones, C., Cohen, E.L., Collins, T., Casey, B.R.. Effects of an Educational DVD Intervention to Promote Adherence to the HPV Vaccination Series. Provisionally accepted for oral presentation. 2012 CDC National Cancer Conference: Uniting Systems, Policy & Practice in Cancer Prevention and Control. Washington, DC. August 21-23, 2012.
Cohen, E.L. A theoretically grounded approach to understanding early adopters' and nonadopters' HPV vaccination beliefs. Paper presented to the Annual Conference of the International Communication Association, Singapore.June 26, 2010.
External Website
University of Kentucky College of Public Health Rural Cancer Prevention Center