A health literacy education initiative to improve breast cancer knowledge in minority women

A dissertation submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Nursing Practice.Background: Patient education is essential for ensuring compliance with screening mammograms and is a crucial tool for healthcare providers supporting preventative health measures with Breast Cancer Screening (BCS). Purpose: To combat low health literacy related to breast cancer (BC) in primary care settings, a health literacy education initiative was introduced to minority female patients within the ages 40-74. Methods: A pre- and post-design was used to implement an educational initiative, based on the Breast Cancer Health Literacy Assessment Tool (BCLAT), which assesses women’s knowledge regarding prevention, knowledge and screening, and awareness. Results: This Quality Improvement (QI) project’s findings reflect a 6.7% increase in knowledge overall during a three-month period compared to pre-intervention. Of the 26 female participants, 17 (65%) completed their mammogram and 9 (35%) did not have a mammogram done at the end of the 12-weeks. Implications: This QI project proved positive outcomes for increasing breast cancer knowledge through an education initiative and increasing screening mammogram completion rates.Nursing PracticeCollege of Nursing and Health Scienc