The Conversations About Cancer (CAC) Project – Phase II: National Findings From a Randomized Control Trial

• In Event: Cancer Health Communication

Abstract

National findings are reported from an innovative and highly successful Entertainment-Education (E-E) intervention focusing on the importance of health communication throughout family cancer journeys. In an NIH supported investigation entitled Conversations about Cancer (CAC), we integrated the social sciences and the arts to create and implement a research protocol for addressing a major social problem in contemporary society: Communicating about cancer from diagnosis through death of a loved one. From verbatim family phone interactions When Cancer Calls…(WCC) was produced, an 80-minute video that was designed to assess viewing impacts across cancer patients, survivors, and family members. A multi-site, group-randomized, pretest-posttest controlled quasi-experimental study was conducted to evaluate the effects of WCC….
When compared to a cancer nutrition video, findings revealed that pretest-posttest and 30 day follow-up change scores were significantly higher. Key implications are raised for cancer research, education, and training that promotes meaningful dialogue about often complex communication challenges.

Authors

• Wayne A. Beach, San Diego State U

• David Michael Dozier, San Diego State U

• Mary Klein Buller, Klein Buendel, Inc.

• Kyle Gutzmer, San Diego State U

• Lyndsay Fluharty, Klein Buendel, Inc.

• Valerie H. Meyers, Klein Buendel, Inc.

• David B. Buller, Klein Buendel, Inc.