Improving Muslim Women’s CANcer Screening Uptake (IMCAN study)
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Improving uptake of breast, bowel and cervical cancer screening among Muslim women: a non-randomised feasibility study of a peer-led, faith-based intervention
IRAS ID
336729
Contact name
Floor Christie-de Jong
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Sunderland
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
Clinicaltrials.gov Identifier
NCT06106165, The protocol has been registered on Clinicaltrials.gov
Duration of Study in the UK
2 years, 11 months, 31 days
Research summary
Screening and early detection can reduce deaths from breast, bowel, and cervical cancer (WHO, 2017). However, lower uptake of cancer screening is seen in several ethnic minority groups. Tackling these variations in cancer screening uptake has been one of the priorities of UK cancer strategies (Cancer Research UK). Muslim women have been found to be less likely to attend cancer screening than White-British women, which puts them at higher risks of cancer deaths (Campbell et al 2020). The study focuses on increasing the uptake of cancer screening among Muslim women.
In 2020, the team, from the University of Sunderland and University of Glasgow, worked with ten Muslim women in Scotland to design a workshop that aims to overcome barriers to screening by Muslim women. The workshops consist of four parts: a discussion on barriers and facilitators to cancer screening, a health education session on cancer screening, videos of Muslim women's experiences with screening, and an Islamic perspective on cancer screening (Christie-de Jong et al 2022).
We received funding from Cancer Research UK to conduct a three-year non-randomised feasibility trial to test our workshops.
We are looking to recruit 200 Muslim women, aged 25-74 years, living in either the North East or Scotland, who are not up to date with cancer screening. The participants will take part in a two-hour workshop, either online or in-person, in each study location. Participants will be recruited through community centres, mosques, social networks and social media.
We will assess whether the workshop changed the knowledge and attitudes towards cancer screening. Participants will be followed up at 6 months and 12 months after the workshops. We aim to look at the changes in screening uptake following the workshops using self-reporting from participants and by looking at data from NHS screening programmes at 12 months follow-up.REC name
London - Central Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
24/LO/0179
Date of REC Opinion
18 Apr 2024
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion