Browsing by Autor "Carolyn Finck"

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Abstract 16: Building Capacity on Cancer Prevention of Healthcare Professionals in Latin America and the Caribbean as Trusted Agents to Increase Populations’ Health Literacy: An Online Competency-Based Microlearning Program
(American Association for Cancer Research, 2023) Ariadna Feliu; Carolyn Finck; Arlette Bahena Botello; Mariantonia Lemos; Carolina Espina
Abstract Purpose: Every year 1.5 million new cancer cases are diagnosed in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC). Of these cancers, about 40% could be prevented by avoiding or reducing exposure to modifiable risk factors and unhealthy behaviours. Health literacy has been identified as a main barrier for cancer prevention and control. Healthcare professionals may play a key role in cancer prevention as the first entry point of the public in the health system. We aim to improve health literacy and awareness of cancer prevention in the public in LAC through building capacity and competencies of healthcare professionals to adopt cancer prevention actions. Methods: We developed an online competency-based self-paced microlearning program for primary healthcare professionals based on the cancer prevention actions recommended in the 1st edition of the Latin American and the Caribbean Code Against Cancer (soon to be launched). The competences addressed in the curriculum are knowledge, communication skills, problem-solving and applying knowledge to real-world situations. We designed a comprehensive evaluation based on the Miller’s Pyramid with a pre-post design to assess the acquisition and use of these competences. Data will be collected in three time-points: a) immediately prior to commencing the training program, to assess baseline knowledge and skills; b) immediately after completion, to determine acquired competences (knows, knows how, and shows how); and c) at 3-6 months follow-up, to assess performance in daily practice (does). Results: The microlearning program will be freely available to all LAC healthcare professionals. During the study period, students wishing to receive a certificate will have to provide their informed consent to participate in the study and complete the necessary questionnaires. Our expected outcomes are: a) short-term, increased healthcare professionals’ competencies to apply cancer prevention in their clinical practice; and b) long-term, enhanced cancer literacy and awareness of preventive measures in the public to reduce cancer risk in LAC. Conclusion: Primary healthcare professionals may be key vectors to increase public awareness and literacy on cancer prevention; however, competency-based trainings are needed to offer the public truthful and actionable advice, answer questions and disseminate personalised preventive messages. Citation Format: Ariadna Feliu, Carolyn Finck, Arlette Bahena Botello, Mariantonia Lemos, Carolina Espina. Building Capacity on Cancer Prevention of Healthcare Professionals in Latin America and the Caribbean as Trusted Agents to Increase Populations’ Health Literacy: An Online Competency-Based Microlearning Program [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 11th Annual Symposium on Global Cancer Research; Closing the Research-to-Implementation Gap; 2023 Apr 4-6. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2023;32(6_Suppl):Abstract nr 16.
Health-related quality of life in Colombia: reference values of the EORTC QLQ-C30
(Wiley, 2012) Carolyn Finck; Susana Barradas; Susanne Singer; Markus Zenger; Andreas Hinz
There are normative data of the quality of life (QoL) questionnaire EORTC QLQ-C30 (the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire) for several European countries and Korea, but not for Latin America. The aim of this study was to provide these normative values for the general population in Colombia and to assess differences in terms of age and sex. For that reason, a sample of 1500 representatively selected individuals of the Colombian population completed the EORTC QLQ-C30 form. Results showed that mean scores of the Colombian population are similar to those obtained in European countries; whereas the mean values from a Korean study were lower (worse QoL). Age and sex differences were found in several scales and symptom items. Linear regression analyses were calculated to help quantify the influence of age and gender on QoL. Men reported better functioning and less symptoms than women on all scales, and older individuals reported worse global scores in terms of functioning and lower QoL than younger ones. In sum, the normative values presented can be used to assess QoL scores of Latin American cancer patients and to compare groups of patients with unequal age and sex distributions.
Más allá del comportamiento religioso: escala de las creencias post-críticas en mujeres con cáncer de seno en Colombia
(Universidad de Antioquia, 2014) Maria Paula Orozco Hurtado; Carolyn Finck
El objetivo de la presente investigación fue establecer si la Escala de las Creencias Post-Críticas (PCBS), desarrollada por Hutsebaut et al (1996,1997), es un instrumento válido en el estudio de la religiosidad y espiritualidad de las pacientes con cáncer de seno en Colombia. En segundo lugar, se quiso comprobar la estructura bi-factorial de la escala. Se encontró validez convergente entre los constructos evaluados tanto del SBI-15R (System of Belief Inventory) como del BMMRS (Multidimensional Measure of Religiosity and Spirituality) con el primer factor de la PCBS (Inclusión vs. Exclusión), y por otro lado, las correlaciones entre el segundo factor de la PCBS (Literal vs. Simbólico) y los dos instrumentos mencionados anteriormente, evidenciando validez divergente. Finalmente, los datos de las pacientes no se ajustaron al modelo bi-factorial de la PCBS.
“My Body, My Rhythm, My Voice”: a community dance pilot intervention engaging breast cancer survivors in physical activity in a middle-income country
(2022) María Alejandra Rubio; Carlos M. Mejía-Arbeláez; Maria A. Wilches-Mogollon; Sergio Moreno; Carolyn Finck; Lisa G. Rosas; Sol Angie Romero; Paula Guevara; Santiago Cabas; Oscar Rubiano
<title>Abstract</title> <bold>Background:</bold> Interventions to promote physical activity among women breast cancer survivors (BCS) in low to middle-income countries are limited. We assessed the acceptability and preliminary effectiveness of a theory-driven group dance intervention for BCS delivered in Bogotá, Colombia. <bold>Methods:</bold> We conducted a quasi-experimental study employing a mixed-methods approach to assess the 8-week, 3 times/week group dance intervention. The effect of the intervention on participants’ physical activity levels (measured by accelerometry), motivation to engage in physical activity, and quality of life were evaluated using Generalized Estimating Equations analysis. The qualitative method included semi-structured interviews thematically analyzed to evaluate program acceptability. <bold>Results:</bold> Sixty-four BCS were allocated to the intervention (N=31) or the control groups (N=33). In the intervention arm, 84% attended ≥60% of sessions. We found increases on average minutes of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity per day (intervention: +8.99 vs control: -3.7 min; <italic>p </italic>= 0.01), and in ratings of motivation (intervention change score= 0.45, vs. control change score= -0.05; <italic>p</italic> = 0.01). BCS reported improvements in perceived behavioral capabilities to be active, captured through the interviews. <bold>Conclusions:</bold> The high attendance, behavioral changes, and successful delivery indicate the potential effectiveness, feasibility, and scalability of the intervention for BCS in Colombia.<bold>Trial registration: </bold>Clinical trials NCT05252780, registered on Dec 7th, 2021 – Retrospectively registered Unique protocol ID: P20CA217199-9492018.<bold> </bold>