CULTURAL SENSITIVITY AND READABILITY OF BREAST AND PROSTATE PRINTED CANCER EDUCATION MATERIALS TARGETING AFRICAN-AMERICANS

Cancer prevention materials such as pamphlets, booklets and fact sheet s play a significant role in reducing cancer disparities. Little is do cumented in the literature about the cultural sensitivity of materials targeting African Americans. The Cancer Prevention Materials and Afri can Americans project was conducted to assess the cultural sensitivity and readability of printed cancer education materials targeting Afric an Americans. Results showed current breast and cancer materials are n ot written at appropriate reading levels, and only 54% of the breast a nd 40% of the prostate cancer materials were found to be culturally se nsitive. Even though the materials are being developed and disseminate d in health fairs, physician offices, barber shops, and other location s, the materials are still not reflective of the African-American popu lations and do not consider literacy, visual, written messages, and fo rmat as factors in their utilization. Future studies should assess the appropriateness of materials for African Americans to promote and pre vent cancer in African Americans.