Education Program for Breast Cancer Screening

Overseen By Heather Hurwitz, PhD

Age: 18+

Sex: Female

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: Case Comprehensive Cancer Center

Disqualifiers: Not high risk, others

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 2

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

The trial aims to improve breast cancer screening rates among women experiencing homelessness. It focuses on educating these women about breast health to catch cancer earlier and reduce late-stage diagnoses. Participants will complete a survey to discuss their beliefs and barriers regarding mammograms, followed by an educational session. This trial targets women under 40 living in homeless shelters or transitional housing who have not had a mammogram in the last year and have either high-risk symptoms or a close family member with breast cancer. As an unphased trial, this study offers participants the opportunity to contribute to important research that could enhance breast cancer screening and education for underserved communities.

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications.

What prior data suggests that this educational program is safe for participants?

Research has shown that educational programs for breast cancer screening are safe for participants. Although specific safety data for this program is not available, educational activities are generally manageable. They focus on providing information and promoting healthy habits, rather than involving drugs or medical procedures.

Previous studies have found that community-based educational efforts can successfully increase breast cancer screening rates and early detection, with no reports of harm to participants. These programs often include discussions and support from public health educators, which are safe and helpful ways to increase awareness.

In summary, this educational program aims to inform and educate, making it a safe choice for those considering participation. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about this trial because it focuses on education rather than traditional medical treatments. Unlike standard breast cancer screening methods, which often rely on straightforward medical appointments and mammograms, this program includes a culturally-appropriate educational session. It aims to break down barriers and myths about breast health and mammography, delivered by a female public health educator. This approach not only informs but empowers women by offering a free on-site mammogram after the session. The hope is that this method will boost participation in regular screenings, leading to earlier detection and better outcomes.

What evidence suggests that this educational program is effective for increasing breast cancer screening rates among homeless women?

Research has shown that educational programs can increase breast cancer screening rates, particularly in groups with historically low rates. In this trial, participants will receive an outreach educational program, which includes a survey to understand beliefs and barriers around breast health and mammography, followed by a culturally-appropriate educational session. One review found that teaching sessions helped more low-income women obtain mammograms. Another study demonstrated that education tailored to different cultures could close screening gaps in diverse communities. Teaching women about breast health and the benefits of early screening can lead to better health and lower death rates from breast cancer. These findings suggest that educational sessions effectively boost screening and early detection of breast cancer. ^{6 7 8 9 10}

Who Is on the Research Team?

Heather Hurwitz, PhD

Principal Investigator

Cleveland Clinic, Case Comprehensive Cancer Center

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for women under 40 at high risk of breast cancer who haven't had a mammogram in the last year and are staying in homeless shelters or transitional housing in Cleveland. It's not open to those outside this area.

Inclusion Criteria

I am a woman under 40 with high risk breast cancer symptoms or a family history.

Resident at a homeless shelter or transitioning housing facility in the greater Cleveland area

Have not had mammogram in the last 12 months

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Educational Outreach

Participants complete a survey to elucidate beliefs and barriers around breast health and mammography, followed by a culturally-appropriate educational session about breast health and mammography.

1 day

1 visit (in-person)

Mammography Screening

Eligible women receive a free on-site mammogram from the mobile mammography clinic.

1 day

1 visit (in-person)

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for any immediate feedback or issues post-mammography screening.

4 weeks

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Education Session
• Survey

Trial Overview The study tests if education sessions and surveys can help increase breast cancer screening rates among homeless women, aiming to catch cancer earlier.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Outreach educational program Experimental Treatment 2 Interventions

Participants will be given a survey to elucidate beliefs and barriers around breast health and mammography. A brief, culturally-appropriate educational session about breast health and mammography will follow and will be delivered by a female public health educator. After education, eligible women will be offered a free on-site mammogram

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Case Comprehensive Cancer Center

Lead Sponsor

Trials

472

Recruited

33,400+

Published Research Related to This Trial

Only 36% of women surveyed understood the lifetime risk of developing breast cancer, indicating a significant gap in knowledge about breast health among the 1000 women aged 49 to 64 in Oxfordshire.

While many women recognized the benefits of screening for early detection and less invasive treatment, 45% mistakenly believed that screening could prevent breast cancer, highlighting the need for better education on the purpose and limitations of breast screening.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Women's knowledge about breast cancer risk and their views of the purpose and implications of breast screening--a questionnaire survey. Webster, P., Austoker, J.[2016]

In a study of 101 adult cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy, 83% reported experiencing adverse events, highlighting the common side effects of anticancer drugs.

The research found that 11% of adverse events and a significant portion of medical consultations and hospitalizations were linked to a lack of therapeutic education, emphasizing the need for better patient education on treatment and supportive care.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

[Potential clinical impact of therapeutic education in patients treated with anticancer drugs]. Santucci, R., Aatmani, AE., Lescoute, A., et al.[2017]

An educational program for nursing technicians significantly improved their understanding of how to recognize and record Adverse Events (AEs) in hemodialysis patients, with test scores increasing from an average of 3.7 to 4.2 out of 5 after the intervention.

The program effectively combined classroom and online learning, demonstrating that such training methods can enhance the knowledge and skills of healthcare professionals in managing patient safety.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Nursing educational intervention for the identification of Adverse Events in hemodialysis. Pássaro, PG., D'Ávila, R.[2019]

A study of 185 women in a rural Appalachian area revealed significant knowledge gaps about breast cancer and screening practices, particularly regarding breast self-examination timing and behaviors.

Women who received education from healthcare providers showed better understanding and adherence to breast cancer screening guidelines, highlighting the need for ongoing education and reinforcement from healthcare professionals.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Knowledge, attitudes, and practices surrounding breast cancer screening in educated Appalachian women. Leslie, NS., Deiriggi, P., Gross, S., et al.[2015]

A study involving 405 women at Eskişehir Osmangazi University showed that knowledge about breast cancer (BC) screening methods was low before training, with only 11.4% having had a mammogram in the past year.

After a training program, participants' knowledge about BC significantly increased (p=0.001), indicating that educational interventions can effectively raise awareness and potentially improve participation in screening programs.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Educational Study to Increase Breast Cancer Knowledge Level and Scanning Participation among Women Working at a University. Özerdoğan, N., Şahin, BM., Kösgeroğlu, N., et al.[2020]

A study of 1184 Pakistani women revealed a significant lack of knowledge and practices related to breast cancer screening, with 87.9% never having performed a breast self-examination and 98.9% never having undergone a mammogram.

Only 35.5% of participants recognized advancing age as a risk factor for breast cancer, indicating a poor understanding of risk factors associated with the disease.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Knowledge, attitude and practices amongst the Pakistani females towards breast cancer screening programme. Sarwar, MZ., Hassan Shah, SF., Yousaf, MR., et al.[2017]

Effective clinical drug safety surveillance is crucial for protecting public health and ensuring the commercial success of pharmaceutical products, as it helps monitor and manage adverse drug events.

The process of drug safety surveillance is governed by FDA regulations and involves systematic management of adverse event reports, emphasizing the importance of clear communication and data handling to improve drug safety outcomes.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

A primer of drug safety surveillance: an industry perspective. Part I: Information flow, new drug development, and federal regulations. Allan, MC.[2019]

A study involving 35 breast cancer patients showed that while most felt knowledgeable about their condition, their actual understanding was often less accurate, particularly regarding tumor size, type, and grade.

The majority of patients expressed a strong interest in receiving a personalized medical summary, highlighting a need for better information sharing between healthcare providers and patients.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

A feasibility study to evaluate breast cancer patients' knowledge of their diagnosis and treatment. Smith, SM., Balise, RR., Norton, C., et al.[2022]

A survey of 767 healthcare providers revealed that while there is interest in identifying and treating high-risk breast cancer patients, many physicians lack up-to-date knowledge on best practices.

An educational session significantly improved participants' knowledge about high-risk breast cancer care, with pre-test scores averaging 67.1% and post-test scores averaging 80.3%, indicating that targeted education can enhance practice patterns in this area.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Assessing breast cancer risk and providing treatment recommendations: immediate impact of an educational session. Gabram, SG., Dougherty, T., Albain, KS., et al.[2015]

Internet-based education significantly improved patients' knowledge levels more than face-to-face education with a nurse in a study involving 147 ambulatory orthopedic surgery patients.

Both education methods were effective in enhancing knowledge, but there was no difference in the sufficiency of knowledge between the two groups, indicating that online education is a viable alternative in ambulatory care.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Ambulatory orthopaedic surgery patients' knowledge with internet-based education. Heikkinen, K., Leino-Kilpi, H., Salanterä, S.[2017]

A survey of 282 patients in an outpatient clinic revealed that while 62.6% felt adequately informed about their chemotherapy, 42.4% still desired more information, indicating a gap in patient education.

Patients expressed a strong preference for receiving chemotherapy information through written materials and discussions with healthcare professionals, highlighting the need for enhanced educational resources on topics like chemotherapy mechanisms and interactions.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Evaluation of patient chemotherapy education in a gynecology oncology center. Smith, JA., Kindo, CC., Kurian, S., et al.[2018]

Providing women with detailed information about the breast screening recall process significantly reduces distress and increases satisfaction, as shown by a study involving 2,132 women across multiple centers.

Women who received an information leaflet with their recall letter felt more reassured and better understood the assessment process, highlighting the importance of clear communication in healthcare settings.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Written information needs of women who are recalled for further investigation of breast screening: results of a multicentre study. Austoker, J., Ong, G.[2017]

A study involving 375 medical university students revealed that while most (96.27%) had good knowledge of mammography and clinical breast examinations, many (82.13%) were aware of breast self-examination but did not know how to perform it.

The majority of students recognized risk factors for breast cancer, such as contraceptive pills (60%) and protective factors like breastfeeding (71.2%), indicating a solid understanding of breast cancer awareness among young female medical students.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Breast cancer awareness among pharmacy and physiotherapy students of medical university Nawabshah. Irfan, R., Memon, H., Umrani, IN., et al.[2022]

A new approach to Morbidity and Mortality (M&M) Conferences has led to a 29% increase in overall satisfaction and a 50% increase in satisfaction regarding the addressing of process improvement issues over 5 years.

The hands-on, educational focus of the revamped M&M Conferences has resulted in 100% of faculty applying what they learn to their practice, suggesting that this model could enhance discussions about adverse events and improve patient safety across the medical community.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

An Innovative and Integrative Approach to Breaking Down Barriers to Traditional Morbidity and Mortality Conference. Tresselt, E., Darnell Bowens, C., Dhar, A.[2023]

A pharmacist-led program effectively managed adverse events in 123 patients with EGFR mutation-positive non-small cell lung cancer receiving afatinib, highlighting the importance of patient education and proactive monitoring in a community oncology setting.

Common adverse events included diarrhea (85%) and rash/skin reactions (58%), with 13% of patients discontinuing treatment due to these side effects; however, those who continued treatment often had dose reductions, indicating a strategy to maintain therapy despite adverse effects.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Pharmacist-led patient education and adverse event management in patients with non-small cell lung cancer receiving afatinib in a community-based, real-world clinical setting. Khrystolubova, N., Shieh, M., Patel, AJ., et al.[2020]

Citations

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Education Program for Breast Cancer Screening The research articles reviewed do not provide specific safety data for the Education Program for Breast Cancer Screening. However, educational programs in ...

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The effectiveness of educational intervention based on the ... The present study was designed to determine the effect of educational intervention based on the Health Action Model in improving breast cancer screening ...