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Health issues stemming from the public's lack of access to scientific and health information prompted mounting concerns about public health responses. A growing amount of digital journalism scholarship has indicated the relevance of podcasts in health communication through reaching and engaging audiences in more significant preventive behaviors. Integrating digital journalistic practices in health podcasts as a practical and low-cost communication strategy can augment public adherence to addressing widespread health issues. However, the role of health podcasts in media framing in promoting preventive health behaviors is largely unknown. This study used a mixed-method approach (e.g., content analysis and quasi-experiments) to uncover the effectiveness of health podcasts' framing practices (scientific vs. health frames). The content analysis results demonstrated that the health podcasts mainly used carrier and normal frames, while problem definitions and treatment were leading scientific frames. In a series of quasi-experiments comprising 640 respondents from the UAE and Pakistan, this research manipulated eight frames employed in health podcasts (i.e., two leading sub-frames for each scientific and health frame) to examine the causal mechanism that affects preventive health behaviors (hereafter PB). The findings established that the message-consistent effects of media frames manifesting scientific evidence and health orientation made audiences adopt PB. Theoretically, this research addresses the call for a more comprehensive "community digital journalistic practices model," further delivering novel evidence on the health podcast framing approaches to offer more eloquent community health campaigns to raise public health issues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background Despite guidelines for cervical cancer prevention in low-resource countries, a very small proportion of women in these settings undergo screening, and even fewer women are successfully treated. Using pilot data from western Kenya and World Health Organization recommendations, we developed a protocol to implement evidence-based cervical cancer screening and linkage to treatment strategies to the rural communities. We describe the protocol for a cluster-randomized trial to compare two implementation strategies for human-papillomavirus (HPV)-based cervical cancer screening program using metrics described in the RE-AIM (reach, efficacy, adaption, implementation and maintenance) framework. Methods The study is a three-year, two-phase cluster-randomized trial in 18 communities in western Kenya. During Phase 1, six control communities were offered screening in health facilities; and six intervention communities were offered screening in community health campaigns. Screening was done with human-papillomavirus testing through self-collected specimens. Phase 1 ended and we are working in partnership with communities to further contextualize the implementation strategy for screening, and develop an enhanced linkage to treatment plan. This plan will be tested in an additional six communities in Phase 2 (enhanced intervention). We will compare the reach, efficacy, cost-effectiveness and adaptability of the implementation strategies. Discussion Effective low-cost cervical cancer prevention technologies are becoming more widely available in low- and middle-income countries. Despite increasing government support for cervical cancer prevention, there remains a sizeable gap in service availability. We will use implementation science to identify the most effective strategies to fill this gap through development of context-specific evidence-based solutions. This protocol design and results can help guide implementation of cervical cancer screening in similar settings, where women are most underserved and at highest risk for disease. Trial registration This trial is registered at ClinicalTrials.gov , NCT02124252 .

Abstract: Objective: To determine the effectiveness of community health campaigns (CHCs) as a strategy for human papillomavirus (HPV)‐based cervical cancer screening in rural western Kenya. Methods: Between January and November 2016, a cluster‐randomized trial was carried out in 12 communities in western Kenya to investigate high‐risk HPV testing offered via self‐collection to women aged 25–65 years in CHCs versus government health facilities. Outcome measures were the total number of women accessing cervical cancer screening and the proportion of HPV‐positive women accessing treatment. Results: In total, 4944 women underwent HPV‐based cervical cancer screening in CHCs (n=2898) or health facilities (n=2046). Screening uptake as a proportion of total eligible women in the population was greater in communities assigned to CHCs (60.0% vs 37.0%, P<0.001). Rates of treatment acquisition were low in both arms (CHCs 39.2%; health facilities 31.5%; P=0.408). Discussion: Cervical cancer screening using HPV testing of self‐collected samples reached a larger proportion of women when offered through periodic CHCs compared with health facilities. The community‐based model is a promising strategy for cervical cancer prevention. Lessons learned from this trial can be used to identify ways of maximizing the impact of such strategies through greater community participation and improved linkage to treatment. ClinicalTrials.gov registration: NCT02124252. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Despite guidelines for cervical cancer prevention in low-resource countries, a very small proportion of women in these settings undergo screening, and even fewer women are successfully treated. Using pilot data from western Kenya and World Health Organization recommendations, we developed a protocol to implement evidence-based cervical cancer screening and linkage to treatment strategies to the rural communities. We describe the protocol for a cluster-randomized trial to compare two implementation strategies for human-papillomavirus (HPV)-based cervical cancer screening program using metrics described in the RE-AIM (reach, efficacy, adaption, implementation and maintenance) framework.Methods: The study is a three-year, two-phase cluster-randomized trial in 18 communities in western Kenya. During Phase 1, six control communities were offered screening in health facilities; and six intervention communities were offered screening in community health campaigns. Screening was done with human-papillomavirus testing through self-collected specimens. Phase 1 ended and we are working in partnership with communities to further contextualize the implementation strategy for screening, and develop an enhanced linkage to treatment plan. This plan will be tested in an additional six communities in Phase 2 (enhanced intervention). We will compare the reach, efficacy, cost-effectiveness and adaptability of the implementation strategies.Discussion: Effective low-cost cervical cancer prevention technologies are becoming more widely available in low- and middle-income countries. Despite increasing government support for cervical cancer prevention, there remains a sizeable gap in service availability. We will use implementation science to identify the most effective strategies to fill this gap through development of context-specific evidence-based solutions. This protocol design and results can help guide implementation of cervical cancer screening in similar settings, where women are most underserved and at highest risk for disease.Trial Registration: This trial is registered at ClinicalTrials.gov , NCT02124252 . [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Active tuberculosis (TB) screening outside clinics and in communities may reduce undiagnosed TB. Methods: To determine the yield of TB screening during community-based HIV testing campaigns (CHC) in 7 rural Ugandan communities within an ongoing cluster-randomized trial of universal HIV testing and treatment (SEARCH, NCT:01864603), we offered sputum microscopy to participants with prolonged cough (>2 weeks). We determined the number of persons needed to screen to identify one TB case, and the number of cases identified that linked to clinic and completed TB treatment. Results: Of 36,785 adults enumerated in 7 communities, 27,214 (74%) attended CHCs, and HIV testing uptake was >99%, with 941 (3.5%) HIV-infected adults identified. Five thousand seven hundred eighty-six adults (21%) reported cough and 2876 (11%) reported cough >2 weeks. Staff obtained sputum in 1099/2876 (38%) participants with prolonged cough and identified 10 adults with AFB-positive sputum; 9 new diagnoses and 1 known case already under treatment. The number needed to screen to identify one new TB case was 3024 adults overall: 320 adults with prolonged cough and 80 HIV-infected adults with prolonged cough. All 9 newly diagnosed AFB+ participants were linked to TB care within 2 weeks and were initiated TB treatment. Conclusions: In a rural Ugandan setting, TB screening as an adjunct to large-scale mobile HIV testing campaigns provides an opportunity to increase TB case detection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To determine the effectiveness of community health campaigns (CHCs) as a strategy for human papillomavirus (HPV)-based cervical cancer screening in rural western Kenya.Methods: Between January and November 2016, a cluster-randomized trial was carried out in 12 communities in western Kenya to investigate high-risk HPV testing offered via self-collection to women aged 25-65 years in CHCs versus government health facilities. Outcome measures were the total number of women accessing cervical cancer screening and the proportion of HPV-positive women accessing treatment.Results: In total, 4944 women underwent HPV-based cervical cancer screening in CHCs (n=2898) or health facilities (n=2046). Screening uptake as a proportion of total eligible women in the population was greater in communities assigned to CHCs (60.0% vs 37.0%, P<0.001). Rates of treatment acquisition were low in both arms (CHCs 39.2%; health facilities 31.5%; P=0.408).Discussion: Cervical cancer screening using HPV testing of self-collected samples reached a larger proportion of women when offered through periodic CHCs compared with health facilities. The community-based model is a promising strategy for cervical cancer prevention. Lessons learned from this trial can be used to identify ways of maximizing the impact of such strategies through greater community participation and improved linkage to treatment. ClinicalTrials.gov registration: NCT02124252. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]