April 4-6, 2024 • Hyatt Regency • Lexington, KY
Innovations in Health Communication
Innovations in Health Communication
Abstract: Increasing High-Risk Breast Cancer Prevention Appointments: Developing a Better, Theoretically-Built Letter
Background: The American Cancer Society estimates that approximately 1-in-8 women will develop breast cancer at some point in their lives, with half of women being diagnosed before the age of 62 [1]. However, evidence continues to accumulate that there are steps women can take to reduce their risk of developing breast cancer, including lifestyle modifications, or risk reducing medications [2]. As a result, the CDC continues to advocate finding ways to prevent breast cancer, not only to save lives but also reduce the estimated $29 billion spent each year in treatment costs [3,4]. Medical centers across the country have also been dedicating efforts toward prevention programs. Common among these programs is assisting women in developing personalized risk assessments and care plans tailored to their unique life histories. However, these prevention programs can only be of use to patients if they are aware of their existence and subsequently make an appointment. Boosting awareness is becoming more challenging in a continually increasing media saturated environment.
Unfortunately, a large Midwest healthcare system with a breast cancer prevention program (BCPP) was finding that thousands of letters they were mailing annually to women identified as being at high-risk for developing breast cancer were not having the desired effect for encouraging appointments with prevention-focused providers within the program. Therefore, a novel partnership with communication scholars sought to revise these letters to increase awareness, intentions, and appointments, with the following overarching research question:
RQ: What impact does a theory-based, revised letter have on high-risk patients’ knowledge, beliefs, intentions, and behaviors toward a breast cancer prevention appointment?
Methods: Guided by the Extended Parallel Process Model, survey responses were collected from letter recipients over the course of two years, both pre (n=132) and post (n=123) letter revision. Actual appointments made attributed to letters were also tracked over this duration. Survey respondents were paid $10 via an Amazon gift card for their participation.
Results: Recipients of the revised letter had increased knowledge regarding the length of prevention appointments and indicated greater self-efficacy and intentions to make and attend appointments compared to those who received the non-revised letter. A greater percentage who received the revised letter also made appointments with the BCPP.
Conclusion: Partnering with communication scholars helped with improving a letter mailed to thousands of patients each year. Finding ways to increase response-efficacy of breast cancer prevention activities within communications may assist in increasing appointments.
Practice Implications: Cross-disciplinary partnerships across the medical and social sciences – while not quick or simple (e.g., this project took multiple years to complete) - are essential for finding ways to improve patient wellbeing and hopefully reducing the prevalence of preventable diseases in the future.
Note: We have a full paper written and ready to present at KCHC 2024.
Unfortunately, a large Midwest healthcare system with a breast cancer prevention program (BCPP) was finding that thousands of letters they were mailing annually to women identified as being at high-risk for developing breast cancer were not having the desired effect for encouraging appointments with prevention-focused providers within the program. Therefore, a novel partnership with communication scholars sought to revise these letters to increase awareness, intentions, and appointments, with the following overarching research question:
RQ: What impact does a theory-based, revised letter have on high-risk patients’ knowledge, beliefs, intentions, and behaviors toward a breast cancer prevention appointment?
Methods: Guided by the Extended Parallel Process Model, survey responses were collected from letter recipients over the course of two years, both pre (n=132) and post (n=123) letter revision. Actual appointments made attributed to letters were also tracked over this duration. Survey respondents were paid $10 via an Amazon gift card for their participation.
Results: Recipients of the revised letter had increased knowledge regarding the length of prevention appointments and indicated greater self-efficacy and intentions to make and attend appointments compared to those who received the non-revised letter. A greater percentage who received the revised letter also made appointments with the BCPP.
Conclusion: Partnering with communication scholars helped with improving a letter mailed to thousands of patients each year. Finding ways to increase response-efficacy of breast cancer prevention activities within communications may assist in increasing appointments.
Practice Implications: Cross-disciplinary partnerships across the medical and social sciences – while not quick or simple (e.g., this project took multiple years to complete) - are essential for finding ways to improve patient wellbeing and hopefully reducing the prevalence of preventable diseases in the future.
Note: We have a full paper written and ready to present at KCHC 2024.