Scripted tours through a giant inflatable colon: An innovative and effective educational tool in urban communities

• Published in: Preventive medicine reports 2020-12, Vol.20, p.101248-101248, Article 101248
• Main Authors: Miguel, Christine A., Paskett, Electra D., Fisher, James L., Fickle, Darla K., Washington, Chasity M., Degraffinreid, Cecilia, Tatum, Cathy, Gray II, Darrell M.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Cancer education; Colorectal cancer screening; Inflatable colon; Regular
• ISSN: 2211-3355; 2211-3355
• DOI: 10.1016/j.pmedr.2020.101248

•Scripted, guided tours of an inflatable colon increase colorectal cancer knowledge.•Intention to undergo colorectal cancer screening increases after tours.•Colon tours are effective even among young adults and the uninsured. Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the second leading cause of cancer-related death among men and women in the US and mortality rates are increasing among young adults. Although CRC is largely preventable with screening and often curable when detected at an early stage, many age-appropriate individuals remain unscreened or are not currently up-to-date with screening. We aimed to examine the impact of providing guided, scripted tours through an inflatable colon on three domains: CRC knowledge, likelihood of communicating about CRC with others, and the intention to be screened for CRC in a diverse, urban population. The inflatable walk-through colon was exhibited at five community events in Franklin County, Ohio between March 2015 and August 2016. A pre and posttest research design and composite scores were stratified into three age groups (