EFFICACY OF AN EDUCATIONAL INTERVENTION ON LATINAS’ CERVICAL CANCER SCREENING KNOWLEDGE

Latinas’ lack of knowledge regarding cervical cancer screening (CCS) guidelines has a significant impact on CCS adherence and ultimately impacts their health outcomes related to cervical cancer. Studies have demonstrated that small media, culturally relevant educational interventions are highly effective in improving Latinas’ knowledge of CCS (Moran et al., 2016; Thompson et al., 2019; Warner et al., 2018). The purpose of this scholarly project was to implement and evaluate the efficacy of a small media educational intervention on Latinas’ knowledge of CCS and human papillomavirus (HPV) and evaluate the participants’ satisfaction with the intervention. A convenience sample of 50 Hispanic female patients between the ages of 21-65 was obtained from a community health center in the Southeast region of the United States. The fotonovela utilized in the Thompson et al. (2019) study was the intervention used for this project; it was offered in Spanish and English and included information on CCS and HPV. A pre- and post-test questionnaire assessing the participants’ CCS and HPV knowledge was administered. In addition, the post-questionnaire included questions that evaluated the participants’ satisfaction with the fotonovela. Following implementation of the fotonovela, participants significantly increased their average post-test CCS and HPV knowledge scores (Pre: 50.6; Post: 83.6, p<.000). All 50 participants (100%) reported overall satisfaction with the fotonovela. The findings of this project were both statistically and clinically significant indicating that the fotonovela is an effective and favorable educational intervention, thus its implementation is warranted in healthcare settings that provide care to Latinas.