The BEAUTY & Health program is a community-based intervention aimed at improving cancer-specific health knowledge, literacy, and risk-reduction practices within community settings in Malaysia. This program targets screenable male and female cancers and other non-communicable diseases. It aims to develop Malaysia’s first cancer and health digital library featuring educational materials in the form of booklets and 3-minute videos. A total of 48 booklets and 44 health education videos have been developed. These materials are available in the four main languages commonly spoken and written in Malaysia: English, Malay, Mandarin, and Tamil.
The educational content covers topics related to the most common cancers in Malaysia, including breast, colorectal, prostate, lung, cervical, childhood cancers, leukemia, lymphoma, and nasopharyngeal cancer. It also addresses related issues such as reducing cancer risk, smoking, and obesity. The materials were developed through a comprehensive process involving in-depth interviews with experts, focus-group discussions with individuals living with non-communicable diseases, and surveys conducted with over 600 Malaysians of various ages, ethnicities, and education levels.
The educational materials were carefully crafted to be accessible and understandable to Malaysians of various health literacy levels and cultural backgrounds. In addition to the digital library, the project aimed to establish a National Cancer Screening Registry, the first of its kind in Malaysia. This registry facilitates self-assessment for proactive health management, maintains detailed clinical records, and provides timely self-assessment and screening reminders. It also serves as a platform for distributing health education materials from the cancer and health digital library.
The registry’s data collection capabilities enable analysis of trends in patient records, which can lead to enhanced care. It also provides a comprehensive repository for clinical records accessible in one location and allows for statistical evaluations through report generation.
