Using secure WhatsApp-based digital recruitment as an intervention in prostate cancer research with black men
- 1School of Healthcare Sciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff, United Kingdom
- 2School of Computer Science, Cardiff University, Cardiff, United Kingdom
- 3PRIME Centre Wales, Division of Population Medicine, School of Medicine, College of Biomedical and Life Sciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff, United Kingdom
Abstract
This paper describes the development and implementation of a secure, community-centred digital system as an intervention to share prostate cancer risk information among Black men in southeast Wales. In this study, the term Black men is used to refer to men of Somali and African Caribbean heritage. The system was designed to support culturally and linguistically appropriate participation. Recruitment was facilitated by two community co-applicants using project-funded smartphones and WhatsApp Business accounts to disseminate co-created prostate cancer risk messages, link to external prostate cancer risk checker and link to an evaluation survey, within closed community groups. Participants accessed the survey through a custom landing page that verified mobile numbers via CAPTCHA and unique access codes distributed using TextGlobal. After verification, participants selected their preferred language (English or Somali) to view participant information sheets and consent forms. Submitted consent data were encrypted and securely stored on university servers, with cross-referenced verification ensuring integrity. These measures upheld core digital security principles: protecting access to the WhatsApp groups to invited participants, controlling survey access, protecting the confidentiality and accuracy of consent data through encryption, and maintaining secure storage. A privacy risk assessment using the LINDDUN GO framework identified and mitigated vulnerabilities, including risks of data disclosure, unnecessary processing, and regulatory non-compliance. This paper presents a replicable approach for integrating community engagement with privacy-by-design principles in digital health research. It demonstrates how participatory digital systems can enhance inclusivity and trust while upholding data protection, offering practical guidance for researchers designing secure, culturally informed digital methodologies.
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BibTeX
@article{wakeham2026using,
title = {{Using secure WhatsApp-based digital recruitment as an intervention in prostate cancer research with black men}},
author = {Kai Wakeham and George Theodorakopoulos and Shancang Li and Yifan Liu and Xueyi Wang and Nicholas Courtier and Harriet Quinn-Scoggins and Sarah Fry},
journal = {Frontiers in Digital Health},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.3389/fdgth.2026.1786070},
url = {https://doi.org/10.3389/fdgth.2026.1786070},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Using secure WhatsApp-based digital recruitment as an intervention in prostate cancer research with black men
AU - Kai Wakeham
AU - George Theodorakopoulos
AU - Shancang Li
AU - Yifan Liu
AU - Xueyi Wang
AU - Nicholas Courtier
AU - Harriet Quinn-Scoggins
AU - Sarah Fry
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/28
JO - Frontiers in Digital Health
DO - 10.3389/fdgth.2026.1786070
UR - https://doi.org/10.3389/fdgth.2026.1786070
AB - This paper describes the development and implementation of a secure, community-centred digital system as an intervention to share prostate cancer risk information among Black men in southeast Wales. In this study, the term Black men is used to refer to men of Somali and African Caribbean heritage. The system was designed to support culturally and linguistically appropriate participation. Recruitment was facilitated by two community co-applicants using project-funded smartphones and WhatsApp Business accounts to disseminate co-created prostate cancer risk messages, link to external prostate cancer risk checker and link to an evaluation survey, within closed community groups. Participants accessed the survey through a custom landing page that verified mobile numbers via CAPTCHA and unique access codes distributed using TextGlobal. After verification, participants selected their preferred language (English or Somali) to view participant information sheets and consent forms. Submitted consent data were encrypted and securely stored on university servers, with cross-referenced verification ensuring integrity. These measures upheld core digital security principles: protecting access to the WhatsApp groups to invited participants, controlling survey access, protecting the confidentiality and accuracy of consent data through encryption, and maintaining secure storage. A privacy risk assessment using the LINDDUN GO framework identified and mitigated vulnerabilities, including risks of data disclosure, unnecessary processing, and regulatory non-compliance. This paper presents a replicable approach for integrating community engagement with privacy-by-design principles in digital health research. It demonstrates how participatory digital systems can enhance inclusivity and trust while upholding data protection, offering practical guidance for researchers designing secure, culturally informed digital methodologies.
SN - 2673-253X
ER -