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One year of the CLEAR-PC project: achievements, community and the road ahead
It has been one year since our project officially started. This first year has been a period of collaboration, learning and important progress towards improving health literacy, shared decision making and equality in prostate cancer.
In this edition, we look back at the main achievements of the first 12 months, highlight the growing community around the project, and look ahead to the main activities and milestones of the second year.
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A message from our Project Coordinator
“Now that we are entering our second year, we have the evidence we need to move from understanding the needs to developing the CLEAR-PC strategy”
One year into CLEAR-PC, it is important to reflect on what we have achieved together. We have explored what people know about prostate cancer, how they use health information, and where the main gaps remain. We have also examined how health literacy, digital health literacy and shared decision making are addressed in healthcare professional education and training, identifying opportunities to improve communication and support informed decisions. But CLEAR-PC is also about bringing people together. Researchers, healthcare professionals, patients, organisations and stakeholders form across Europe are contributing their different perspectives and expertise to a common goal: making prostate cancer information clearer, more accessible and more useful for informed decision making. Now that we are entering our second year, we have the evidence we need to move from understanding the needs to developing the CLEAR-PC strategy. We still have a lot of work ahead of us, but I am very much looking forward to tackling this new phase and continuing on this journey together. Blanca Lumbreras Lacarra CLEAR-PC Project Coordinator |
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One year, key achievements
During the first year, significant work has been carried out by the consortium to advance health literacy at all stages of prostate cancer. Here are some of the main milestones: Educational Resource Repository
One year into CLEAR-PC, a database of existing educational resources on health literacy in prostate cancer care has been completed. A total of 148 entries were catalogued and reviewed, and 129 tools and strategies were identified.
Health Resource Repository
A diverse range of health literacy resources relevant to prostate cancer has been mapped. In total, 181 resources were identified through consultations with key health informants (23), a review of grey literature (77), and a systematic search of scientific literature (81).
Previously, key informants had been consulted to gain a broad perspective on health literacy and digital health literacy. Insights from a total of 111 survey responses and seven in-depth interviews have been gathered into the report Key Informant Insights Summary.
European Population Survey
A quantitative survey targeting men aged 40 years and over has been conducted to assess prostate cancer knowledge, health literacy and shared decision making. A total of 3,000 people in Belgium, Croatia, the Netherlands, Portugal, and Spain were surveyed. A report of the findings will be published soon.
Focus Groups
In addition, four focus groups with healthcare professionals (urologists, psycho-oncologists, family doctors and psychologists) were conducted. In the upcoming months, focus groups with prostate cancer patients, the general population, and vulnerable and minority communities from different European countries will be organised to understand their experiences with prostate cancer, health literacy and shared decision making.
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Growing our stakeholder community
Collaboration is at the heart of CLEAR-PC. During its first year, the project has built a growing community of stakeholders committed to contributing to its objectives. 59 stakeholders have joined the community, representing:
Our stakeholder community includes organisations from Spain, Portugal, Croatia and other European countries, bringing together diverse perspectives, expertise and experiences across all eight work packages of the project. |
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Highlights from the past 12 months
The first year has been full of activities, meetings and opportunities to exchange knowledge. Here are some of the highlights:
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Looking ahead: priorities for the second year
At CLEAR-PC, we are entering our second year with a clear focus on developing the first prototype of the CLEAR-PC strategy. During the next 12 months, the project will focus on:
The second year will also bring new opportunities to engage with stakeholders, co-create and test health literacy tools and resources, and further strengthen collaboration across Europe. |
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Save the date: upcoming events
Looking ahead to the next months, the consortium will be involved in a number of events and activities. Cancer Literacy Day
14 October 2026 | Brussels, Belgium
Partners from across Europe will launch a landmark initiative that aims to become a permanent annual European movement dedicated to advancing equitable access to cancer knowledge.
European Prostate Cancer Awareness Day (EPAD)
5-7 November 2026 | Brussels, Belgium
The EPAD, organised by Europa Uomo in close collaboration with the Policy Office of the European Association of Urologists (EAU), aims at increasing the awareness of the general population on the prostate and on prostate cancer.
27th Annual World Congress International Psycho-Oncology Society
9-12 November 2026 | Barcelona, Spain
Under the overarching theme “Towards a sustainable psycho-oncology: of all and for all”, members of the CLEAR-PC consortium will participate in the IPOS 2026 congress to disseminate the project’s latest findings.
19th European Public Health Conference
10-13 November 2026 | Bilbao, Spain
The EPH 2026 conference will provide a platform for discussion on current research and policy challenges of population health. Representatives of the CLEAR-PC consortium will join the programme to present key findings from its recent research activities.
15th CLEAR-PC Steering Committee and WPs meeting
27-28 January 2027 | Oviedo, Spain
Project partners FICYT, CSPA and SESPA will host a hybrid consortium meeting in Asturias, providing an opportunity to assess the progress, address key strategic matters, and set priorities for the project’s second phase.
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Thank you for being part of our journey
The first year of our project would not have been possible without the commitment and collaboration of our partners, stakeholders and wider community. Thank you for being part of it. We look forward to continuing to work together during the next year! |
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Co-funded by the European Union under Grant Agreement Nº 101219353. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Health and Digital Executive Agency (HADEA). Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.
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