DESTIGMATISE

We will collaborate with members of Black communities, NHS providers and wider stakeholders across the UK to conduct the research in four phases.

Phase 1

Interviews, focus groups and surveys with Black men diagnosed with prostate cancer, Black men without prostate cancer and immediate families of Black men with prostate cancer to understand their experiences/perceptions of stigma. By Families, we mean those who may influence men’s decision-making, such as partners.

Phase 2

Stakeholder engagement workshops with Black men and their families to discuss findings from phase one and develop resources which are culturally appropriate with them (such as videos, pocket guides) to inform public health messaging on prostate cancer.

Phase 3

Focus groups with Black men and their families to test if the resources developed are acceptable to them. We will use their comments and feedback to improve the resources so they are useful in clinical and community settings.

Phase 4

Test how practical it will be to integrate the resources within clinical and community settings to improve patient care and early engagement with cancer services among Black men in the UK.

We are committed to involving patients, their families, and local communities within the Black African and Caribbean ethnic groups as active partners in shaping our research. We want to make sure that people with different perspectives and experiences have the chance to influence what we do and how we do it. This helps us to focus on what really matters to members of the Black community in relation to addressing prostate cancer stigma.

We have a dedicated PPI Group who were actively involved in designing the study proposal, developing the study logo, and reviewing the participant-facing documents for the study as part of the ethics application process. The group meets online regularly, providing guidance to ensure the study is culturally sensitive to the needs of the Black communities. They will also help to co-facilitate the stakeholder engagement workshops to develop study outputs and actively involve in recruitment and dissemination activities.

"Losing a family member to prostate cancer hits home. Knowing one in four Black men are at risk, I'm driven to support this vital research. It's about breaking stigma and getting us talking. Because one conversation can make the difference"

- Mr Alston Owens, PPI Member

Dr Olufikayo Bamidele, Advanced Fellow, NIHR304439 is funded by the NIHR for this research project. The views expressed on this website are those of the author (s) and not necessarily those of the NIHR, NHS or the UK Department of Health and Social Care.