Seeing red..? Co-design of a culturally tailored uterine cancer awareness intervention for Asian and Black ethnic minority groups

Abstract

Objective: There is a lack of public awareness of the signs and symptoms of uterine cancer, and common misconceptions can lead to delays in diagnosis. Methods: A three-step co-design principle was undertaken to iteratively develop a culturally- tailored uterine cancer awareness animated video for Asian and Black ethnic minority populations. A series of focus groups were held with representatives from the target populations, uterine cancer survivors and healthcare professionals to firstly review the storyboard and script, and secondly to review the animated video and make adaptions. The content of focus group discussions and iterative changes were analysed using thematic reflexive analysis. Results: In total, 39 individuals participated in the co-design process, including 21 women from Asian and Black minority groups, four uterine cancer survivors and seven healthcare professionals, including three gynaecologists, two specialist nurses and two general practitioners. The key themes identified included lack of awareness, clarity of message, visual appearance and cultural tailoring, factual accuracy, and addressing misconceptions. The results emphasised the importance of co-designing health communication materials collaboratively with individuals from underserved ethnic minority groups, healthcare professionals, and uterine cancer survivors. Conclusions: The created animated video conveys key health messages by addressing critical themes including awareness gaps in reproductive anatomy, uterine cancer symptoms, and misconceptions about diagnostic procedures, whereas the use of diverse visual representations and simple language aims to foster inclusivity and cultural resonance.

Keywords

• Uterine cancer
• Endometrial cancer
• Womb cancer
• Red-flag
• Symptoms