Why we funded it
Knowledge of how HSMs work and what leads to success or failure
has built up over time through a number of social scientific
investigations, but mostly in the USA and only occasionally in the
UK. Through this study we hope to benefit from knowledge of what
has worked for other HSMs such as the very successful breast cancer
awareness movement.
Scientific title
The public face of prostate cancer in the UK.
Research project summary
Professor Seale's project will study the changing public image
of prostate cancer in the UK, the degree to which men with prostate
cancer find this image helpful in understanding and coping with
their experience. The project will also study what prostate cancer
campaigning organisations need to do in future to raise awareness
of the needs of men with prostate cancer among the general public,
in the health service and in the research community. This will help
organisations aiming to support men with prostate cancer and
encourage funding of initiatives to prevent and treat the disease,
to pursue strategies in the future that are more likely to lead to
success. As a social scientist, he will be drawing on general
knowledge of 'Health Social Movements' (HSMs), of which prostate
cancer awareness campaigns are an example.