Methodology
BCLEAR applies a structured, evidence-based and participatory methodology to improve bladder cancer health literacy and shared decision-making across Europe. The project combines research, co-creation, piloting, evaluation and dissemination, ensuring that all outputs are scientifically sound, patient-centred and adaptable to different national contexts.
The work begins with a comprehensive scoping review of bladder cancer health literacy across the EU, with particular focus on countries where awareness gaps and inequalities are greatest. This mapping exercise examines the current landscape of bladder cancer prevention and health care literacy across EU member states, with a specific focus on good practice, pre-existing tools and methods, unmet needs, and barriers to early diagnosis and informed decision-making, providing the foundation for the development of all educational and decision-support tools.
Building on this evidence, BCLEAR develops multilingual, multi-format resources for both citizens, patients and healthcare professionals. Patients, clinicians, primary care providers and public health experts are actively involved in the design and validation of materials to ensure relevance, clarity and cultural appropriateness. Special attention is given to shared decision-making, with tools tailored to non-muscle-invasive and muscle-invasive bladder cancer, and integrated into the entire care pathway.
All educational and decision-aid tools undergo systematic quality assessment using internationally recognised instruments, including the Patient Education Materials Assessment Tool (PEMAT) and the International Patient Decision Aid Standards (IPDAS). Feedback from these assessments is used to refine content and improve usability, accessibility and clinical relevance.
Finally, the project integrates large-scale dissemination, pilot implementation in selected countries, and sustainability planning. Through awareness campaigns, professional training, policy dialogue and the development of a virtual library of good practices, BCLEAR ensures that validated tools and lessons learned can be scaled up and embedded in long-term cancer prevention and care strategies across Europe.