Woman and Man
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Extract
Background and study aims The overall number of cancer cases is increasing and, therefore, strengthening cancer prevention has become a priority. The recommendations for primary prevention include advices, such as: not smoking, following a healthy diet, doing daily physical exercise or avoiding overweight, among others. Adolescence is a period of adoption and/or consolidation of health behaviors, and both school- and family-based interventions have proven effective to improve them. Furthermore, online and mobile phone educational interventions are encouraging. The main aims of the study are: From a broad focus, to explore the capacity that the web and SMS provide to prevent cancer risk behaviors in adolescents and in their adult environment. From a narrow focus, (a) to assess the diffusion capacity of an educational intervention based on new technologies, (b) to measure the beneficiary capture and (c) to describe cancer behavioral risk. Who can participate? Adolescents of Secondary Education who are aged between 12 and 16 years, and the adults of their environment (i.e. their relatives and teachers) who have voluntarily accepted to participate. What does the study involve? Participants will be randomly allocated to intervention and control group. The implementation and assessment of a complex online program, entitled Prevencanadol, supplemented with the delivery of SMS. The study factor is comprised of a tailor made website ( www.alertagrumete.com ) and of the delivery of SMS, which try to prevent cancer risk. A mixed group of (a) specialists in Preventive Medicine and (b) Secondary School teachers designed the educational contents (which are currently being taught at the schools by means of a specially prepared website) as well as the text of the SMS (related to the advantages of healthy behaviors and the skills to refuse invitations that can carry out risk behaviors). What are the possible benefits and risks of participating? Some benefits of participating in the study can be the following: a) to know the European Code against Cancer, whose recommendations are similar to those of other guidelines; b) to be influenced by the received information (using scientific methods of proven effectiveness) and consequently to follow the prevention advices; c) to integrate prevention activities in their daily lives, transversely. Thus, in general, the program will facilitate the meeting of several aims pointed out by the WHO for non communicable diseases. If the effectiveness of the educational intervention is confirmed, it will reduce the number of risk behaviours and their incorporation into the lifestyle of adolescents. Reducing the incidence of cancer is the expected result (if we achieve to control the behavioral risk factors included in the European Code against Cancer). Then, an improvement in quality of life and a reduction of the costs of cancer diagnosis and treatment will be the expected long term consequences. There are no evident risks for participants, but anticipating risks is very difficult due to this initiative's novelty, but other similar tools have not reported any problems for participants. Where is the study run from? The study is taking place in Spain and Mexico. When is the study starting and how long is it expected to run for? The study started at the beginning of 2010 and it is expected to run until the end of 2013 (incorporation of subjects). In 2014 we will perform a follow-up and an evaluation procedure. Who is funding the study? Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación - Fondo de Investigación Sanitaria del Instituto de Salud Carlos III (Minisitry of Science and Innovation - Health Research Fund of the Institute of Health Carlos III) Who is the main contact? Dr. Alberto Lana Pérez [email protected]
Inclusion criteria
- Cancer risk behaviors