Rethinking the 'cancer' label and lab reports for low-grade prostate cancer
DP24-062 (SIPS), Patient Perspectives on Relabeling and Pathology Reporting for Grade Group 1 Prostate Cancer
This project asks men with low-risk (Grade Group 1) prostate cancer, including Black and Hispanic men, whether the word 'cancer' and different pathology report wordings affect their understanding and feelings.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California, San Francisco NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (San Francisco, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11180946 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You would be invited to share your experiences in interviews and focus groups about whether low-grade prostate cancer should be labeled 'cancer' and how pathology reports are written. The team will use discrete choice experiments where you pick between different label and wording options to learn what matters most to patients. They will also run a randomized comparison of standard pathology wording versus patient-centered wording plus a plain-language supplement to see which reduces confusion or distress. All activities will be offered in English and Spanish and will include men from diverse racial, ethnic, geographic, and socioeconomic backgrounds across California.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Men with Grade Group 1 (low-risk) prostate cancer who speak English or Spanish and live in California, with emphasis on Black, Hispanic, and other underrepresented groups.
Not a fit: Men with higher-grade prostate cancer, people without prostate cancer, or those who do not speak English or Spanish are unlikely to benefit directly from this project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Could lead to clearer, less alarming pathology reports and possible changes in labeling that reduce anxiety and help avoid unnecessary treatments.
How similar studies have performed: Prior work suggests that relabeling and clearer reports can change worry and treatment choices, but combining qualitative interviews, choice experiments, and a randomized wording test is relatively new.
Where this research is happening
San Francisco, United States
- University of California, San Francisco — San Francisco, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Ramirez-Valles, Jesus — University of California, San Francisco
- Study coordinator: Ramirez-Valles, Jesus
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.