Using Middle School Science Teachers to Address Cancer Health Disparities with CARES4You Curriculum

What this Trial Is About

Researchers are evaluating a middle school science curriculum called CARES4You that aims to teach students about cancer risk and prevention. This program is designed to fit into regular science classes in New York City public middle schools and aligns with national science education standards. The study compares schools that start using the curriculum immediately with those that continue their usual lessons and adopt the program later. The goal is to see if the curriculum influences students' intentions to engage in healthy behaviors and encourages conversations about cancer risk with their caregivers. The CARES4You curriculum consists of six units with 14 lessons covering topics such as cancer genetics, epidemiology, media literacy related to tobacco advertising, nutrition, biotechnology, and risk reduction. These lessons are delivered by regular science teachers during 50-minute classes over about five weeks, typically 4-5 days per week. Students complete interactive activities and a final project to apply what they learn. Caregivers of students in the immediate intervention group also complete a survey about health behaviors and communication after the curriculum is finished. During the study, students complete surveys before and after the curriculum to assess changes in knowledge, intentions, and communication styles about cancer risk. Caregivers in the intervention group complete a one-time survey and receive a gift card for participating. Teachers complete evaluations of the curriculum's impact on their students. The study lasts about six weeks from baseline to follow-up assessments, with delayed intervention schools adopting the curriculum after the initial study period.

Using Middle School Science Teachers to Address Cancer Health Disparities