Can you help with research into prostate cancer stigma?
Kettering General Hospital is supporting research into the reasons why black men do not always come forward for prostate cancer testing.
Our research team is looking to contact black men and their families to find more about the stigma associated with prostate cancer, why this is the case, and what would change people’s minds.
The hospital is supporting phase 1 of the national study which aims to carry out interviews and surveys with volunteers to include black men with prostate cancer, their partners and immediate families, and black men over 40 without prostate cancer.
For the purposes of the study black ethnicity is described as self-identified by men, within the UK census categories Black African, Black Caribbean, Black British, Black Welsh or Black other.
The national study is led by Dr Olufikayo Bamidele at the Hull York Medical School , is supported at a local level by KGH Consultant Urologist Mr Ayman Girgis .
Mr Girgis said: “The aim of this research is to understand and address the role of stigma in public health messaging, decision-making and help-seeking for early prostate cancer diagnosis and care among black men.
“Prostate cancer is the most common cancer affecting men in the UK and occurs in 1 in 4 black men compared with 1 in 8 white men.
“Early diagnosis enhances men’s survival rates from prostate cancer. However, evidence suggests that self, public, and structural, stigmas prevent black men from talking openly about prostate cancer and from seeking timely help for symptoms.
“This may be because it is associated with lessened masculinity and it can lead to delays in diagnosis.
“Therefore, it is vital to work with this underserved patient group and their communities to make their voices heard, improve their engagement with cancer services and outcomes from prostate cancer.”
If you are interested in taking part you can contact the KGH research team direct at kgh-tr.researchkgh@nhs.net . You will then be invited to an online Teams interview where you may be asked a series of questions about your views and opinions.
KGH Senior Research Nurse, Team Lead Parizade Raymode said: “There is a scarcity of UK-based research on the stigma in the black community associated with prostate cancer. The aim of this study is to seek to understand and address stigma related to prostate cancer among black men.
“We hope local families will support the research and help doctors and health organisations to better understand how to get better engagement in this area which could save many lives each year.”
The research is four phases. This first phase will last until February 2027. The two other phases will involve exploring the early findings, engaging with stakeholder groups followed by further focus groups and interviews. The final phase will test the findings in clinical and community settings to improve patient care and early engagement with cancer services and will end in 2029.