A pilot study: exploring mHealth interventions to increase colorectal cancer knowledge in emerging adult Black men.

Over the last twenty years, colorectal cancer (CRC) has steadily increased in individuals under the age of 50. Black men are disproportionately affected by the disease. In Virginia, CRC is one of the top five leading causes of cancer-related deaths. The current pilot mHealth intervention, PRISM, was created to increase CRC awareness. A pilot sample of 20 Black men between the ages of 18-25 were recruited in Petersburg, Virginia, where cancer is the second leading cause of death. The 14-day mHealth intervention, PRISM, demonstrated preliminary evidence to increase CRC awareness and knowledge among 20 participants pre-post change t(19) = 9.64, p < 0.001 in a single arm trial. Future studies should assess the acceptability and feasibility of PRISM through a randomized design. Creating culturally tailored interventions may help educate individuals in marginalized communities about preventive diseases such as CRC, contributing to a reduction in CRC cases among Black men and early-onset CRC (EoCRC).