Findings of the research project
The research project ‘CaLioS’ included five phases: four focused on research and one on the development of an educational website.
Review Research on Cancer Literacy in Kenya
We explored the current state of research on Cancer Health Literacy in Kenya and mapped existing research, explored the concept used and the situational factors influencing interventions.
Findings were presented at the First Cancer Research Symposium in Nairobi, Kenya, in December 2023. (PPT of the presentation).
The article was published in Frontiers in Public Health (Link to the open access journal article).
Additionally, we wrote a chapter on how to tackle cancer literacy in the Africa: Review findings from Africa and the way forward. It was accepted for the Handbook of Concepts in Health, Health Behavior and Environmental Health. Springer. (Link to the open access chapter)
Exploring cancer education & the role of storytelling in Kenya
We explored the current state of research on Cancer Literacy in Kenya and mapped existing research, explored the concept used and the situational factors influencing interventions.
Findings were presented at the Global Health Literacy Summit in Rotterdam, Netherlands in September 2024. (Poster).
The article on the potential of narratives in cancer health literacy promotion is in final preparation.
Exploring lived experiences of cancer survivors in Kenya
We explored how cancer survivors report about their life with cancer, how it influenced their daily life and what has helped them to cope with it.
Findings were presented at the Global Health Literacy Summit in Rotterdam, Netherlands in September 2024. (Presentation).
Two articles on the lived experiences of cancer survivors are currently in preparation.
Develop educational website
An educational website was co-designed with representatives of cancer support groups.
Congratulation! You are exploring this website.
Does a website with lived experiences of cancer survivors increase cancer literacy?
This is the question we will explore in a feasibility study in Kenya.
The study took place from January to March 2025.
On this subpage, you find more details about the feasibility study (link).
We plan to publish three articles based on the study. One on the development and psychometric properties of the cancer health literacy scale. One on the acceptance and effectiveness of the online intervention based on the cancer champions feedback. One on the acceptability and effectiveness of the educational intervention for nursing and medical students.
Findings will be published and used to apply for a bigger grant to expand this program to other types of cancers and other countries.
We are working on applying for a bigger grant that allows us to expand this program other types of cancer and other countries. We have already developed very detailed country report for seven other African countries to explore the opportunity to expand it.
Publications and presentations
Publications
Harsch, S., Kugbey, N., Mbugua, R. G., & Sørensen, K. (2025). Tackling the cancer literacy needs: Review findings from Africa and the way forward. In Handbook of Concepts in Health, Health Behavior and Environmental Health. Springer Nature. https://link.springer.com/referenceworkentry/10.1007/978-981-97-0821-5_74-1
Harsch, S., Weber, L. S., Kassaman, D., Kailemia, P. N., & Oria, V. O. (2025). Cancer health literacy in Kenya—A scoping review on evidence, concept and a situational analysis of interventions. Frontiers in Public Health, 13, 1527400. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2025.1527400
Presentations
Harsch, S., Kassaman, D., & Oria, V. (2023). Improving Cancer Literacy using Online Stories in Sub-Saharan Africa, illustrated by the example of Kenya (CaLioS). Annual Day of the German Alliance for Global Health Research, Berlin, Germany. https://doi.org/10.13140/RG.2.2.28061.08164/1
Harsch, S., Kassaman, D., Mbugua, R., Kugbey, Nuworza, & Oria, V. (2024). Improving Cancer Literacy Using Online Stories in Sub-Saharan Africa, Illustrated by the Example of Kenya (CaLioS)—Interim report. Annual Day of the German Alliance for Global Health Research, Berlin, Germany. https://doi.org/10.13140/RG.2.2.15299.82721
Harsch, S., Kassaman, D., Mbugua, R., & Oria, V. O. (2024). “Let them talk” – exploring the potential of using narratives for promoting (cancer-related) health literacy. Global Health Literacy Summit, Rotterdam, Netherlands. https://doi.org/10.13140/RG.2.2.22670.78400
Harsch, S. (2024). Co-designing an evidence-based intervention to promote cancer literacy in Kenya (CaLios). Global Health Literacy Summit, Rotterdam, Netherlands.
Harsch, S., Mbugua, R., Kassaman, D., & Oria, V. O. (2024). Potential for Improving Cancer Patients’ Health Literacy through Online Storytelling. KESHO Conference, Kisumu, Kenya.