Social Media-Based Education on Cancer Screening Awareness in Women: A Randomized Controlled Trial

April 22, 2026 updated by: Emine Ergin

The Effect of Social Media-Based Education on Women's Knowledge, Attitudes, and Health Literacy Regarding Cancer Screenings: A Randomized Controlled Trial

This randomized controlled trial investigates the impact of a social media-based educational program on women's knowledge, attitudes, and digital health literacy regarding breast, cervical, and colorectal cancer screenings. The intervention is based on the Socio-Ecological Model and aims to improve awareness and screening participation. Participants in the intervention group receive daily educational content for 8 weeks via social media platforms (WhatsApp/Instagram), while the control group receives two standard online education sessions via Microsoft Teams app. The study includes 132 women aged 30 to 70 in Türkiye who have not previously participated in cancer screenings. The primary outcomes include changes in cancer knowledge, attitudes, and digital health literacy levels measured by validated scales.

Study Overview

Status

Not yet recruiting

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Detailed Description

This study is a randomized controlled trial designed to evaluate the effect of a social media-based educational intervention on women's knowledge, attitudes, and digital health literacy regarding cancer screenings. The trial will include 132 women between the ages of 30 and 70 who have never undergone breast, cervical, or colorectal cancer screening. Participants are recruited through health institutions and randomized into two parallel groups: the intervention group and the control group.

The educational intervention was developed in accordance with the Socio-Ecological Model (SEM), incorporating individual, interpersonal, institutional, community, and policy-level messages. The intervention group receives 56 infographics and/or videos total over 8 weeks via closed WhatsApp and Instagram groups. The content includes evidence-based information on cancer epidemiology, risk factors, symptoms, screening methods, healthy lifestyle behaviors, and digital health tools such as e-Nabız and MHRS.

The control group receives traditional education via two 40-minute online sessions (1 week apart), covering the same content without daily engagement. The outcomes will be measured using validated instruments to assess changes in participants' knowledge of cancer screenings, their attitudes towards screening, and their digital health literacy. Data collection will take place before and after the intervention period. The study has been approved by the Istanbul Medipol University Non-Interventional Clinical Research Ethics Committee (Approval Number: E-10840098-202.3.02-7880).

This research is expected to contribute to public health strategies that use digital platforms to enhance cancer screening behaviors and improve health literacy among women.

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Estimated)

132

Phase

  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Contact

  • Name: Şerife Çınar, phd candidate midwife
  • Phone Number: +905432285491
  • Email: serifecnr@gmail.com

Study Locations

  • Turkey (Türkiye)
      • Istanbul, Turkey (Türkiye), 34214
        • Medipol Mega University Hospital
        • Contact:
          • Şerife Çınar, phd candidate midwife
          • Phone Number: +905432285491
          • Email: serifecnr@gmail.com
        • Principal Investigator:
          • Şerife Çınar, phD candidate midwife

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Adult
  • Older Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Female participants aged 30 to 70 years
  • Use Instagram and/or WhatsApp actively
  • Literate and able to complete online forms
  • Voluntarily consent to participate

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Diagnosed with any type of cancer
  • Have undergone previous cancer screening

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Health Services Research
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: None (Open Label)

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Social Media-Based Education Group
Participants in this group will receive daily infographic/video-based education for 8 weeks via WhatsApp or Instagram. The content focuses on cancer screening awareness (breast, cervical, colorectal) and digital health literacy. The educational content is developed based on the Socio-Ecological Model.
Behavioral: Social Media-Based Education
This intervention includes daily delivery of 56 infographic/video-based educational materials over 8 weeks via WhatsApp or Instagram. The content focuses on awareness of breast, cervical, and colorectal cancer screenings, healthy lifestyle behaviors, and digital health literacy. The materials are developed based on the Socio-Ecological Model.
Other Names:
  • Instagram & WhatsApp Infographic Education
Active Comparator: Standard Education Group
Participants in this group will receive two standard 40-minute online educational sessions using PowerPoint presentations via Microsoft Teams/Zoom, one week apart. Content includes cancer screening and digital health literacy information.
Behavioral: Standard Online Education
Participants receive two 40-minute online educational sessions one week apart via Microsoft Teams/Zoom. The content includes cancer screening awareness (breast, cervical, colorectal), preventive strategies, and the use of digital health tools such as e-Nabız and MHRS.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Change in Cancer Screening Knowledge Score
Time Frame: Baseline and 4 weeks after the intervention
Measured using a validated cancer screening knowledge questionnaire. Total score reflects level of knowledge about breast, cervical, and colorectal cancer screening guidelines.
Baseline and 4 weeks after the intervention
Change in Attitudes Toward Cancer Screening
Time Frame: Baseline and 4 weeks after the intervention
Assessed using a Likert-type scale measuring women's attitudes toward cancer screening behavior and participation.
Baseline and 4 weeks after the intervention
Change in Digital Health Literacy Level
Time Frame: Baseline and 4 weeks after the intervention
Evaluated using the eHealth Literacy Scale adapted to Turkish. Assesses ability to search, understand, and apply online health information.
Baseline and 4 weeks after the intervention

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Emine Ergin

Collaborators

Saglik Bilimleri Universitesi

Investigators

  • Study Chair: Şerife Çınar, phD candidate midwife, Health Science University

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Estimated)

July 15, 2026

Primary Completion (Estimated)

August 1, 2026

Study Completion (Estimated)

August 20, 2026

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

April 15, 2025

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

April 15, 2025

First Posted (Actual)

April 23, 2025

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

April 23, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

April 22, 2026

Last Verified

April 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • SBU-SC2025-RCT

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

IPD Plan Description

This study involves sensitive data based on personal health information and is conducted with a limited number of participants as part of a doctoral thesis. Therefore, there is no plan to share individual participant data (IPD) directly with other researchers.

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

Clinical Trials on Cervical Cancer Screening

Clinical Trials on Social Media-Based Education

Search Similar Trials

Sponsors and Collaborators

Medical Conditions

Drug Interventions

CROs by country

CROs in Lithuania

Conditions

Rare Diseases

Drug Interventions

Dietary Supplements

Sponsor/Collaborators

Locations

Subscribe