Early Diagnosis of PROstate CANcer for Black Men

PROCAN-B+ is a mixed-methods, two-arm, multi-centre randomised controlled trial evaluating a co-designed, peer-led intervention to encourage informed help-seeking and engagement with prostate cancer health checks and Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) testing among Black men aged 45 years and over with no history of prostate cancer.

The study will recruit 300 participants across three UK sites: North East England including Leeds, Scotland, and London. Following eligibility screening and baseline data collection, participants will be individually randomised in a 1:1 ratio to either the intervention or wait-list control arm by an independent clinical trials unit. Participants allocated to the intervention arm will attend a two-hour co-designed community-based workshop shortly after randomisation, while participants allocated to the 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.

The intervention was co-designed in partnership with Black men and includes peer-led discussions on barriers to early diagnosis of prostate cancer, health education delivered by a Black GP, activities aimed at supporting effective communication with healthcare professionals, and video testimonials from prostate cancer survivors, women, and religious leaders.

Primary outcomes include self-reported discussions with GPs relating to prostate cancer risk, self-reported PSA testing, and GP-recorded PSA testing where participant consent is provided. Secondary outcomes include knowledge of prostate cancer, attitudes towards prostate cancer health checks and PSA testing, and help-seeking behaviours. Data will be collected at baseline, 3-month, and 6-month follow-up.

A qualitative process evaluation involving participants, peer facilitators, and professionals will explore experiences and acceptability of the intervention and inform future implementation and scale-up.