Understanding Prostate Cancer Stigma in Black Men (DESTIGMATISE) V1.0
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Understanding Stigma to inform Public Health Messaging, Decision-Making and Help-Seeking for Early Prostate Cancer Diagnosis and Care among Black Men (DESTIGMATISE)
IRAS ID
338375
Contact name
Olufikayo O Bamidele
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Hull
Duration of Study in the UK
4 years, 11 months, 28 days
Research summary
Prostate cancer (CaP) disproportionately affects 1 in 4 Black men compared with 1 in 8 White and 1 in 13 Asian men. Early diagnosis enhances men’s survival from CaP. However, evidence suggests that self, public and structural stigma prevent men of Black African and Caribbean descent from talking openly about CaP and from seeking timely help for symptoms probably due to its association with death and/or lessened masculinity. This causes delays in diagnosis and increased death rates from CaP. However, it is unclear how best to tackle this stigma within the Black cultural context due to a lack of research. Therefore our study aims to understand the perceptions or experiences of stigma related to CaP within Black communities.Between March 2025 and February 2030, we will work in partnership with Black men and their communities in the UK to conduct the research in four phases:
1.Phase one: interviews and/or focus groups, and surveys with adult Black men diagnosed with CaP, Black men without CaP aged 40 years and above, and partners/immediate families of Black men with CaP (those who may influence men’s decision-making) to understand their experiences/perceptions of stigma. Clinicians involved in CaP diagnosis and care will also be interviewed to explore their perceptions of the topic.
2.Phase two: Evidence synthesis and stakeholder engagement workshops with Black men and their communities to discuss findings from phase one and co-produce culturally appropriate educational and/or information resources to inform public health messaging on CaP
3.Phase three: Focus groups and/or interviews with Black men and their families to assess the acceptability of resources co-produced in phase two. Comments received will be used to improve the resources for use in clinical and community settings
4.Phase four: Test the feasibility (practicability) of incorporating the resources in clinical/community settings to improve patient care and early engagement with cancer services.
REC name
North West - Greater Manchester East Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
25/NW/0046
Date of REC Opinion
7 Apr 2025
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion