Evaluation of a faith-placed education intervention for bowel cancer screening in Muslim communities in the East of England

Background
Inequalities exist in uptake of bowel cancer screening in England, with low uptake amongst certain minority groups, and in areas with high deprivation. A study has shown Muslim men and women are 31% and 42% less likely to participate in bowel screening respectively than the reference population. Individuals in these groups are therefore more likely to receive a late diagnosis of bowel cancer. Culturally adapted interventions are needed to address these inequalities

This feasibility study aims to assess the acceptability and accessibility of an educational faith-placed bowel cancer screening intervention in the East of England, alongside its impact on bowel screening uptake. The educational intervention will be delivered by clinicians from the Muslim community.

Method
This intervention and the evaluation plan were developed with the support of key community stakeholders and professionals. We will conduct a two-group non-randomised feasibility mixed methods study, using surveys, focus groups and semi-structured interviews.
Participants will be recruited through local mosques and relevant community avenues. We aim to recruit 100 participants to the intervention group and 150 to the reference group who do not receive the intervention. Inclusion criteria include men and women aged 56 years and over. The intervention group will complete a pre and post intervention and a six-month follow up survey. The reference group will complete a baseline and a six-month follow up survey. Outcomes will include: screening uptake, knowledge, attitudes, barriers and facilitators towards screening. Regional screening hub records will be used to ascertain actual screening uptake at six-month follow-up. Survey data will be analysed using logistic regression. Three focus groups will be conducted with intervention group participants to explore the acceptability of the intervention, barriers and facilitators. Semi-structured interviews will be held with clinicians delivering the intervention relating to training and delivery. All qualitative data will be subject to a general inductive analysis.

Results
We will present preliminary findings from the evaluation.

Conclusion
Impact statement
The findings will inform how faith-placed interventions can be implemented to increase uptake of bowel cancer screening, and potentially other types of cancer screening or health promotion programmes, contributing to addressing health inequalities in ethnically diverse communities in England.