Social Media-Based Education on Cancer Screening Awareness in Women: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Summary

This randomized controlled study evaluated a social media-based educational program for women who had not previously participated in breast, cervical, or colorectal cancer screening. A total of 132 women aged 30-70 years were assigned to either a social media-based education group or a standard online education group.

The social media-based program was structured according to the Social Ecological Model and delivered through closed WhatsApp and Instagram groups. The standard education group received two online educational sessions via Zoom.

The study evaluated three primary outcomes: knowledge regarding cancer screenings, attitudes toward cancer screening, and self-reported digital health literacy. These outcomes were measured before the assigned educational program and four weeks after its completion. The study did not measure actual participation in cancer screening.

Conditions

• Cervical Cancer Screening
• Breast Cancer Screening
• Colorectal Cancer Screening
• Digital Health Literacy

Interventions

BEHAVIORAL

Social Media-Based Education

The intervention consisted of a Social Ecological Model-based educational program delivered through closed WhatsApp and Instagram groups. Fifty-three visual educational posters were shared during the eight-week program. The materials addressed breast, cervical, and colorectal cancer epidemiology, risk factors, symptoms, screening methods, healthy lifestyle behaviors, access to screening services, and digital health literacy. After the scheduled poster-sharing period, four approximately one-minute reinforcement videos covering breast cancer, cervical cancer, colorectal cancer, and digital health literacy were shared. The intervention therefore comprised a total of 57 educational materials.

BEHAVIORAL

Standard Online Education

Participants received two standardized online educational sessions via Zoom, delivered one week apart. Each session lasted approximately 45-60 minutes. The sessions covered breast, cervical, and colorectal cancer screenings, preventive health information, digital health literacy, and the use of digital health services such as e-Nabız and MHRS. Participants were allowed to ask questions during the sessions; however, they did not receive the daily social media posts, repeated digital content, or continuous group interaction provided to the experimental group.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Saglik Bilimleri Universitesi

  collaborator OTHER

• Emine Ergin

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Şerife Çınar, PhD Candidate, Midwife · Medipol University

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

HEALTH_SERVICES_RESEARCH

Masking

NONE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

30 Years

Max Age

70 Years

Sex

FEMALE

Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2025-06-03

Primary Completion

2025-12-31

Completion

2025-12-31

Countries

• Turkey (Türkiye)

Study Locations