This study evaluated the feasibility of using college students to encourage cancer screening among their parents or other close adults. Methods: A sample of college students were surveyed on their willingness to discuss cancer screening with their parents and their perceived importance of cancer screening. Individuals reporting high levels (≥7/10) on each were offered a brief intervention (i.e., basic cancer screening information) and a follow-up survey. Results: A total of 189 students completed the baseline survey. A subset of 92 students met intervention criteria (49%), with 54 of 92 accepting (59%). Of those who accepted, 19 of 54 were reached at follow-up (35%). Roughly half of those reached engaged in cancer screening discussions with a parent, most speaking with their mother. Open-ended feedback was positive and commonly focused on the desire for additional knowledge. Conclusions: Results demonstrate that college students are a promising target for future intergenerational intervention work.
Abar et al. (Mon,) studied this question.