Using a Short Message System to Increase Cervical Cancer Screening Uptake among Chuukese Women in Guam: Lessons Learned from Linking Distance Technology Between Carriers and Using Telehealth Communication in a Cross-Cultural Context

Abstract

This paper reports on a project aimed at using a short message system (SMS) to increase cervical cancer screening uptake among Chuukese women in Guam. It documents the process and identifies the unexpected challenges which led to the early termination of the study. Although the original aims of the project were not met, there were some lessons learned about technology incompatibility in the context of Guam's and the United States' cell phone technology interface, the cultural nuances of cell phone use in the study population, and the necessity to follow a protocol for the termination of a project.

Keywords: SMS; cervical cancer screening; technology challenges.