Process of developing a cervical cancer education program for female university students in a health and physical education teacher training course: an action research

Abstract

Abstract Background The purpose of this study is to develop a cervical cancer education program for students and evaluate the process for female students of a Sports Science University who are training to become Japanese health and physical education teachers. Methods This study used the Action Research (AR) methodology. In developing the program, we analyzed the description of the teaching material development process, the lectures, and the content of the report as a process evaluation, which was the main activity in the program development. Thirtyfive third- and fourth-year students majoring in health promotion at the Women’s Sports and Science University, which trains health and physical education teachers in Tokyo, Japan, participated in this study. Results After a review of the prototype version of the cervical cancer education material, six out of nine reviewers determined that it can be published. In the revised cervical cancer education materials, messages from students, university lecturers, and gynecologists have been added as a column in the section on 'how to prevent cervical cancer. Analysis of the contents of the texts (16,792 characters in total) of 35 student reports resulted in the generation of 51 codes, 3 categories, and 15 subcategories. Conclusions This study reflects the intentions of female university students to contribute their knowledge to the development of educational materials on cervical cancer, which, alongside the lectures, have deepened the knowledge and awareness of cervical cancer. Based on this, the teaching material development process, lectures by experts, and students’ mindset after learning about cervical cancer is visualized in this study. There is a need for more educational programs on cervical cancer that are implemented through the education of female university students.