Effectiveness communication intervention for health education in reducing risky behaviors in colorectal cancer prevention within the Khmer community, Tra Vinh province

Abstract

Behavior modification stands as a primary approach in disease prevention. Notably, emphasis is placed on behaviors associated with lifestyle and detrimental habits, as they represent modifiable factors with the potential to yield significant impacts. While the implementation of health communication and education initiatives remains crucial in influencing behavioral shifts, comprehensive evaluations of their efficacy, particularly within specific demographics such as marginalized communities, remain scarce. To evaluate the impact of health communication and education interventions on altering risk-related behaviors for colorectal cancer prevention, a communitybased intervention study, incorporating a control group, was conducted among 941 individuals belonging to the Khmer population in the Trà Vinh province of Southern Vietnam, spanning the period from July 1, 2021, to June 30, 2022. Post health communication intervention, statistically significant improvements were recorded in behavioral modifications. Specifically, the risk behavior scores witnessed a reduction of 0.44 points in the intervention group compared to the non-intervention group concerning colorectal cancer prophylaxis within the Khmer community. This alteration demonstrated statistical significance, with a p - value of less than 0.05. These research findings serve as foundational evidence for policy makers and public health professionals, empowering them to formulate tailored interventions to effectively combat the prevalence of colorectal cancer within the community.