NATIVE-AMERICAN YOUTHS AND CANCER RISK REDUCTION - EFFECTS OF SOFTWARE INTERVENTION

Purpose: Toward developing attractive and effective means to reduce ca ncer risks faced by Native American people, this study developed and t ested interactive computer software to improve dietary choices and pre vent tobacco use among Native American adolescents. Methods: Based on a legend of the Seneca Nation, a cancer prevention lesson was develope d and programmed for software. A sample of 368 Native American adolesc ents were divided randomly into intervention and control arms. Youths in both arms were pre-tested, youths in the intervention arm interacte d with the software, and all youths were post-tested. Pre-test and pos t-test measures covered information and attitudes about cancer risks f rom dietary practices and tobacco use. Results: Pre-test scores differ ed between the two arms on youths' age and on one outcome variable. Re lative to their counterparts in the control arm, youths in the interve ntion arm increased their post-test scores on 8 of 12 outcome measurem ent variables. Process data gathered during intervention delivery indi cated that nearly all youths were involved with the interactive softwa re and lesson. Conclusion: Interactive computer software holds promise for delivering cancer risk reduction intervention aimed at modifying dietary habits and preventing tobacco use among Native American youth.