Promoting Cancer Literacy using Online Storytelling in Kenya

The aim of the CaLioS research project is to understand the cancer-related health literacy of cancer patients in sub-Saharan Africa and to improve it through a co-developed website that displays shared patient experiences in order to improve quality of life and treatment outcomes in the long term. For example, cancer literacy in Kenya and the most common cancers there (breast and prostate) will be studied, and an intervention will be developed and evaluated. This will provide initial empirical data and experience for the development of the intervention, which will be extended to other diseases and countries in sub-Saharan Africa in a subsequent research project. Despite the increasing number of new cancer cases in sub-Saharan Africa, empirical evidence on living with cancer, everyday challenges, cancer literacy and interventions to improve it is scarce. And although storytelling is important in sub-Saharan Africa, and studies from the Global North show that shared patient stories can successfully improve knowledge and coping skills, there is a lack of scientific evidence on the use of stories to promote cancer literacy. The project will first conduct a situational analysis of cancer literacy in Kenya (systematic review and thematic analysis using the precede-proceed model) and explore cancer-related educational opportunities. It will also explore the role of cancer patients' lived experiences in promoting cancer literacy and recommendations for an online cancer literacy intervention (qualitative interviews with multiple key informants). Second, narrative interviews with breast and prostate cancer patients about their lived experiences will be conducted, videotaped, pedagogically edited and made available on a co-designed website and social media. Third, the lived experiences of cancer patients will be analysed in detail to gain an in-depth understanding of cancer patients' lives, challenges and strategies for coping and living. Fourthly, it will be investigated whether the use of this online service improves the cancer literacy of cancer patients more than standard services. Finally, a proposal for a larger research project to extend this intervention to other diseases and countries and to scientifically evaluate its implementation and success will be developed in collaboration with partners from sub-Saharan Africa.