Protocol: Feasibility of an Online Intervention to Increase Awareness of Gynaecological Cancer in UK Students

In the UK more than 2500 young people are diagnosed with cancer each year, including gynaecological cancers) and almost a third will be diagnosed within accident and emergency departments. Early diagnosis is essential to improve cancer outcomes. However, despite awareness of warning signs, most young people would delay or avoid seeking help altogether. The key to lifelong monitoring and early detection of cancer is early exposure to cancer information at a formative age. University is seen as a key life transition phase which will enable students to establish positive health behaviours. We have developed an online intervention to change behaviour for university students to support the early detection and intention to seek help for symptoms of gynaecological cancer. The intervention consists of a gynaecological cancer awareness educational film and a help sheet to plan future help seeking. The aim of this study is to find out if the intervention is acceptable for participants and practicable to run. Methods We aim to recruit 86 participants who are women (or those at risk of gynaecological cancer e.g., have ovaries, a uterus, cervix) over 18 at UK universities who can understand English. The educational film provides information about the signs and symptoms of the five different forms of gynaecological cancer and will be delivered online to participants. The help sheet encourages participants to self-monitor for gynaecological symptoms and then identify cues to help-seeking/action. Cancer awareness and willingness to seek help for symptoms will be assessed by questionnaires four times at the beginning, and at 4 weeks, 3 months and 6 months). Interviews will be carried out with participants to understand how acceptable the intervention is. Results Acceptability will be measured by looking at how many people have been recruited and how many have dropped out of the study, how long they have taken to watch the film and to complete the help sheet. Interviews will be analysed by theme. Conclusion We hope that the findings from this study will provide evidence of how the intervention can increase cancer awareness and likelihood of help seeking for cancer symptoms. The long-term goal is to use these findings to use this intervention in other universities in the UK.

Sex

Female

Minimum age

18 Years

Maximum age

39 Years

Inclusion Criteria:

* female students (or those at risk of gynaecological cancer e.g., have ovaries, a uterus, cervix).
* over 18 years of age
* attending UK universities
* resident in the UK
* able to understand written English.

Exclusion Criteria:

* non- female students and those who are not at risk of gynaecological cancer e.g. (don't have ovaries, a uterus, cervix)
* under 18 years of age
* non UK residents
* not able to understand written English

• DERIVEDHolch P, Bagnall AM, Hughes S, McSorley LK. Study protocol, increasing awareness and early detection in students at risk of gynaecological cancer: feasibility of an online educational and behaviour change intervention. Pilot Feasibility Stud. 2026 Apr 21;12(1):83. doi: 10.1186/s40814-026-01801-1. PMID 42010640