Premium
Efficacy of bowel cancer appeals for promoting physical activity
Author(s) -
Jalleh Geoffrey,
Donovan Robert J.,
Slevin Terry,
Dixon Helen
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
health promotion journal of australia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.515
H-Index - 32
eISSN - 2201-1617
pISSN - 1036-1073
DOI - 10.1071/he05107
Subject(s) - medicine , cancer , colorectal cancer , disease , cancer prevention , physical activity , physical therapy , health promotion , gerontology , public health , pathology
Issue addressed To investigate the potential efficacy of bowel cancer prevention messages in increasing intentions to be more physically active. Methods A convenience sample of 281 physically inactive persons aged 30–60 years was recruited in the Perth city centre and randomly assigned to a bowel cancer and physical activity message or a heart disease and physical activity message. After reading a booklet containing information about physical activity and its link either to bowel cancer (n=141) or cardiovascular disease (n=140), respondents filled in a self‐completion questionnaire. The main response measures were impact on intentions to be more physically active, and perceived believability and relevance of the message. Results Perceived believability of the message was high in both conditions. Perceived personal relevance of the message was substantially lower in the bowel cancer than the cardiovascular disease condition. Overall, the cardiovascular disease condition achieved somewhat higher behavioural intentions than the bowel cancer condition. Conclusions The finding that two in three respondents in the bowel cancer condition had increased intention to increase their level of physical activity provides support for the potential efficacy of promoting physical activity in reducing the risk of bowel cancer. So what? The perceived personal relevance of the message was substantially lower in the bowel cancer than the cardiovascular disease condition. Increasing people's awareness of the prevalence of bowel cancer and greater understanding of the link between bowel cancer and physical inactivity may serve to increase people's motivation to increase their level of physical activity.