Cancer Control Research
5R01CA069220-05
Danish, Steven J.
CANCER PREVENTION IN RURAL YOUTH--TEACHING HEALTH GOALS
AbstractDESCRIPTION: The investigators propose a five year school based project
that meets the criteria for a cutting edge prevention with high risk, rural
youth. In contrast to the comparison group, these youth will consume more
foods that reflect low fat and high fiber choices as well as choose not to
initiate tobacco use.
The innovative and interactive cancer prevention program that the
investigators propose to use is based in theory and research and builds upon
an existing life skills program -- Going for the Goal (GOAL). GOAL is an
interactive, school-based life skills program taught by high school students
to middle school student; it is designed to increase the ability of sixth
graders to make choices that promote their long term health. The skills
taught include how to identify positive life goals; how to identify and
engage in health promoting behaviors that can facilitate goal attainment;
how to identify and avoid health compromising behaviors that can impede goal
attainment; how to construct step- by-step plans to reach goals; how to
create and utilize social support; and how to transfer these skills from one
life context to another. By focusing specifically on diet and tobacco use
in the enhanced GOAL Program, the sixth graders will learn how to make life
choices and goals for health.
Twenty-two schools in rural Virginia and New York will be randomly assigned
to either intervention or control groups. The key behaviors (as well as
relevant attitudes and knowledge) of diet and tobacco use will be assessed
both prior to and following the intervention (immediately post, and one- and
two-year follow- ups). The intervention program will consist of (1) twelve
peer- led classroom sessions based on the GOAL Program and implemented
during the sixth grade; (2) six teacher-led classroom sessions based on a
social influence smoking prevention program in the seventh grade; and (3)
six teacher-led classroom sessions based on GOAL in the seventh grade, as
well.
Several different evaluations strategies will be used to investigate the
impact of the intervention on eating and tobacco behaviors, as well as the
behavioral, attitudinal, cognitive and environmental factors influenced by
the intervention. The impact of the intervention will be assessed by
observed food choices in the cafeteria, several carefully crafted self
reported measures of dietary intake and self- and parent-reported tobacco
use. This project will contribute to the ability to prevent cancer in rural
populations by creating a non-intrusive cancer prevention program based on
life skills that not only impacts cancer-related behaviors, but extends to
other health behaviors as well. This program can be delivered in the future
with minimal support from sources outside the school.
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