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

Emine Ergin

Status: Not yet enrolling

Conditions: Digital Health Literacy; Cervical Cancer Screening; Breast Cancer Screening; Colorectal Cancer Screening

Treatments: Behavioral: Social Media-Based Education; Behavioral: Standard Online Education

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT06939699

SBU-SC2025-RCT

Details and patient eligibility

About

This randomized controlled trial investigates the impact of a social media-based educational program on women's knowledge, attitudes, and digital health literacy regarding breast, cervical, and colorectal cancer screenings. The intervention is based on the Socio-Ecological Model and aims to improve awareness and screening participation. Participants in the intervention group receive daily educational content for 8 weeks via social media platforms (WhatsApp/Instagram), while the control group receives two standard online education sessions via Microsoft Teams app. The study includes 132 women aged 30 to 70 in Türkiye who have not previously participated in cancer screenings. The primary outcomes include changes in cancer knowledge, attitudes, and digital health literacy levels measured by validated scales.

Full description

This study is a randomized controlled trial designed to evaluate the effect of a social media-based educational intervention on women's knowledge, attitudes, and digital health literacy regarding cancer screenings. The trial will include 132 women between the ages of 30 and 70 who have never undergone breast, cervical, or colorectal cancer screening. Participants are recruited through health institutions and randomized into two parallel groups: the intervention group and the control group.

The educational intervention was developed in accordance with the Socio-Ecological Model (SEM), incorporating individual, interpersonal, institutional, community, and policy-level messages. The intervention group receives 56 infographics and/or videos total over 8 weeks via closed WhatsApp and Instagram groups. The content includes evidence-based information on cancer epidemiology, risk factors, symptoms, screening methods, healthy lifestyle behaviors, and digital health tools such as e-Nabız and MHRS.

The control group receives traditional education via two 40-minute online sessions (1 week apart), covering the same content without daily engagement. The outcomes will be measured using validated instruments to assess changes in participants' knowledge of cancer screenings, their attitudes towards screening, and their digital health literacy. Data collection will take place before and after the intervention period. The study has been approved by the Istanbul Medipol University Non-Interventional Clinical Research Ethics Committee (Approval Number: E-10840098-202.3.02-7880).

This research is expected to contribute to public health strategies that use digital platforms to enhance cancer screening behaviors and improve health literacy among women.

Enrollment: 132 estimated patients

Sex: Female

Ages: 30 to 70 years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• Female participants aged 30 to 70 years
• Use Instagram and/or WhatsApp actively
• Literate and able to complete online forms
• Voluntarily consent to participate

Exclusion criteria

• Diagnosed with any type of cancer
• Have undergone previous cancer screening

Trial design

Primary purpose: Health Services Research

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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132 participants in 2 patient groups

Social Media-Based Education Group

Experimental group

Description:

Participants in this group will receive daily infographic/video-based education for 8 weeks via WhatsApp or Instagram. The content focuses on cancer screening awareness (breast, cervical, colorectal) and digital health literacy. The educational content is developed based on the Socio-Ecological Model.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Social Media-Based Education

Standard Education Group

Active Comparator group

Description:

Participants in this group will receive two standard 40-minute online educational sessions using PowerPoint presentations via Microsoft Teams/Zoom, one week apart. Content includes cancer screening and digital health literacy information.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Standard Online Education