Early Diagnosis of PROstate CANcer for Black Men (PROCAN-B+)

Black men have approximately twice the risk of developing prostate cancer compared with non-Black men and are more likely to experience poorer prostate cancer outcomes. Despite this increased risk, barriers including lack of awareness of prostate cancer risk, discomfort discussing sensitive health issues, and negative experiences with healthcare may contribute to delays in healp-seeking and early diagnosis.

To address these barriers, we worked with thirteen Black men to co-design a peer-led, community-centred intervention aimed at encouraging help-seeking and engagement with prostate cancer health checks and PSA testing. The intervention consist of a two-hour workshop including peer-led discussions on barriers to early diagnosis of prostate cancer, health education delivered by a Black GP, activities to support effective communication with healthcare providers, and video messages from prostate cancer survivors, women and religious leaders. The workshop also included a social component with music and food.

The intervention was piloted with 62 Black men in 2023-2024. Participants completed surveys before and after the intervention assessing changes in knowledge, attitudes and intentions relating to prostate cancer health checks and PSA testing. Findings suggested improved knowledge, attitudes and intentions. However, the sample size was small and robust effectiveness evaluation with a larger sample is now needed.

The PROCAN-B+ study is a two-arm multi-centre randomised controlled trial (RCT) with an embedded qualitative process evaluation. We aim to recruit 300 Black men aged 45 and over from three sites (100 per site): North East England and North Yorkshire, London and Scotland. Following eligibility screening and baseline data collection, participants will be individually randomised in a 1:1 ratio to intervention or wait-list control groups by an independent clinical trials unit. Intervention participants will receive the intervention workshops shortly after being recruited; while participants allocated to the wait-list control arm will be invited to attend the workshop following the 6-month follow-up period. Due to the nature of the intervention, participants and researchers will not be blinded to allocation.

Intervention workshop delivery will be supported by community members (n=15) who will be trained on workshop facilitation to become peer facilitators.

To assess effectiveness, participants will be asked to complete baseline questionnaires assessing knowledge of prostate cancer, attitudes towards prostate cancer health checks and PSA testing, and self-reported PSA testing. Follow-up questionnaires will be completed post intervention and at 3-month and 6-month follow-up. If participants provide consent, details of their general practitioners (GP) practice will be collected to enable verification of GP-recorded PSA testing at 6-month follow-up. Questionnaires will be administered online, using Qualtrics, or in paper format.

The qualitative process evaluation will involve focus groups and interviews with participants, peer facilitators and professionals to explore experiences and acceptability of the intervention and recommendations for improvement for future implementation and scale-up.