Communicating Cancer Prevention: Comparative Effects of Four Educational Materials on Prevention Beliefs, Information Overload, and Intentions.

Abstract

IntroductionPublic awareness of modifiable cancer risk factors remains limited, and fatalistic prevention beliefs and cancer information overload may hinder information seeking and engagement in preventive behaviors. Brief communication interventions may help address these barriers, but evidence comparing different communication strategies in cancer prevention remains scarce. This randomized study evaluated the effects of four theory-based intervention materials on cancer prevention beliefs, cancer information overload, and prevention-related intentions.MethodsIn a population-based online study, 1,191 adults from Stuttgart, Germany, were randomly assigned to one of four intervention conditions that varied by presentation modality (audiovisual animation vs. text) and mode (narrative vs. non-narrative) or to a control condition. Interventions were self-developed based on the Protection Motivation Theory, addressing modifiable cancer prevention behaviors, particularly physical activity and healthy diet. Cancer prevention beliefs and cancer information overload were assessed pre- and post-intervention using items from the Health Information National Trends Survey; behavioral intentions were assessed post-intervention. Baseline-adjusted ANCOVAs and robust linear models were used.ResultsAudiovisual and narrative materials showed small advantages over text-based and non-narrative materials for the belief that cancer risk can be reduced (<i>F</i>(1,892)=7.33, <i>p</i>=.007, <i>&#x3b7;p</i>^<i>2</i>=.007; <i>F</i>(1,892)=6.71, <i>p</i>=.010, <i>&#x3b7;p</i>²=.005, respectively). Narrative materials were associated with comparatively higher perceived cancer information overload than non-narrative materials (<i>F</i>(1,856)=11.90, <i>p</i>&lt;.001, <i>&#x3b7;p</i>²=.02). Compared with the control condition, all four intervention conditions were associated with stronger behavioral intentions (all <i>p</i> &#x2264; .009), with no significant differences between the intervention conditions.ConclusionBrief theory-based cancer prevention materials can positively influence prevention-related beliefs, perceived information overload, and behavioral intentions. The findings suggest a trade-off in cancer prevention communication: audiovisual and narrative materials showed advantages in strengthening prevention-related beliefs, whereas non-narrative materials were associated with lower perceived cancer information overload. All intervention conditions were associated with stronger intentions, highlighting the potential of diverse theory-based communication strategies to promote cancer-preventive behaviors.