Effectiveness of ColorApp Mobile Application for Health Education and Promotion on Colorectal Cancer:
A Quasi-Experimental Study (Preprint)
BACKGROUND Background: Lack of knowledge and poor attitude is one of the barriers to colorectal cancer screening participation. Printed material such as pamphlets and posters were the main approach in health education on disease prevention. Current information technology advancement had seen an increasing trend of the public to read from websites and mobile app using their smartphone. Thus, health information dissemination should also be diverted to the current trend of information search. Increase in knowledge and awareness will hopefully increase the screening participation and prevent late detection of diseases such as colorectal cancer. OBJECTIVE This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of ColorApp mobile applications in improving the knowledge and attitude on colorectal cancer among user aged 50 years old and above who are the population at risk for the disease in Kedah. METHODS Methods: A quasi-experimental study has been conducted involving 100 participants in Kedah, Malaysia. Participants from five randomly selected community empowerment program in Kota Setar district was chosen as the intervention group while Kuala Muda district was chosen as the control group. Participants were given a self-administered validated questionnaire on knowledge and attitude towards colorectal cancer. A usable mobile application, the ColorApp (Colorectal Cancer Application) was developed as a new educational tool on colorectal cancer prevention. The intervention group were given 2 weeks to use the ColorApp. The same questionnaire was redistributed to both groups after two weeks. The mean percentage score for knowledge and attitude between groups were compared using Repeated Measure ANCOVA. RESULTS Result: There was no significant difference of age, sex, highest education level, current occupation, and diabetic status between the two groups. The number of smokers was significantly higher in intervention groups as compared to control group and it has been controlled during analysis. There was a significant difference in mean knowledge score between intervention and control group with regards to time [Huynh Feldt: F (1,95) = 19.81; p < 0.001]. However, there was no significant difference in mean attitude score between intervention and control group with regards to time [F (1,95) = 0.36, p = 0.550]. CONCLUSIONS Conclusion: The mobile application can be one of the adjunct approaches in educating the public on colorectal cancer.