Documenting programs and "best practices" in reaching men about prostate cancer in barber shops across North Carolina.
We also offer suggestions for supplemental information and resources for active barber programs and for groups and individuals interested in getting their own barber or barbers in their community involved with helping to raise awareness of men's mental health and male cancers during the month of June (Men's Health Awareness Month).
Scroll to the bottom of this page to view the entire episode, or read the article here.
Barbers have a rich history as community health ambassadors. Did you know that barbering is an ancient profession with early records indicating the barber's role as a community leader, elevated almost to the role of priests or medicine men, barbers typically offered bloodletting, tooth extraction, cauterization, and tonsorial surgery in addition to grooming? As western medicine emerged, barbers did not continue the role of the “barber-surgeon-dentist” but maintained their identities as community leaders. The barber shop became legendary during the fight against segregation and the "Jim Crow" era. Today, the barber shop often remains a forum for frank discussion, and continues to provide an environment that can inspire communities to come together in support of needed action for the betterment of mankind.
Exploring the promise of barber shops to help address striking prostate cancer health disparities in North Carolina is not new. Earlier efforts include the Black Men's Health Initiative (BMHI) Barbers/Brothers Against Prostate Cancer (B.A.P. CapTM) Trimming Prostate Cancer in North Carolina work (circa 2000)1 and The Prostate Net® Barbershop Initiative®, also known as "Going to the Barber Shop to Fight Prostate Cancer" (circa 2004).2,3,4
Historical efforts in Cumberland County (circa 2011) showed exceptional promise and, flash forward to 2024, have evolved with the county getting behind their barbers with their Healthy Conversations program. Walter Shearin of Walt's Diversity Barber Shop, in Roanoke Rapids has been talking with his customers about prostate cancer at his store since before 2015. DiFrent Level Barber Studio in Wilson participated in an experiment to deliver telehealth services and help determine whether community-based telehealth programs can increase broadband access for underserved communities.
More recently (2021) North Carolina native (born and raised in Chapel Hill) and NC A & T alumni, Thomas A. Farrington, Founder of the Prostate Health Education Network (PHEN), was Associate Producer for "the barber shop episode," episode 8 of the PHEN edutainment sitcom Daddy's Boys. In 2023, under the leadership of Dr. Angelo Moore, Duke's Office of Health Equity (OHE) hosted a "Barbershop Talk" on prostate cancer. Other historical grassroots efforts include the North Carolina Minority Prostate Cancer Awareness Action Team's "Barber Shop Saturdays," whereby the team would personally deliver prostate health literature and videos to participating barber shops throughout the Raleigh area on Saturdays throughout the month of September (Prostate Cancer Awareness Month).
Are we missing any barber shop efforts in your community? If so, please email details so we can acknowledge those efforts and learn from your work.
Historical efforts in Cumberland County (circa 2011) showed exceptional promise and, flash forward to 2024, have evolved with the county getting behind their barbers with their Healthy Conversations program. Walter Shearin of Walt's Diversity Barber Shop, in Roanoke Rapids has been talking with his customers about prostate cancer at his store since before 2015. DiFrent Level Barber Studio in Wilson participated in an experiment to deliver telehealth services and help determine whether community-based telehealth programs can increase broadband access for underserved communities.
More recently (2021) North Carolina native (born and raised in Chapel Hill) and NC A & T alumni, Thomas A. Farrington, Founder of the Prostate Health Education Network (PHEN), was Associate Producer for "the barber shop episode," episode 8 of the PHEN edutainment sitcom Daddy's Boys. In 2023, under the leadership of Dr. Angelo Moore, Duke's Office of Health Equity (OHE) hosted a "Barbershop Talk" on prostate cancer. Other historical grassroots efforts include the North Carolina Minority Prostate Cancer Awareness Action Team's "Barber Shop Saturdays," whereby the team would personally deliver prostate health literature and videos to participating barber shops throughout the Raleigh area on Saturdays throughout the month of September (Prostate Cancer Awareness Month).
- Rose, John & Linnan, Laura & Carlisle, Veronica & Li, Jiang & Diggs, Pamela. (2007). North Carolina Trimming Risk in Men (TRIM) Project: Formative research to assess the potential for promoting cancer prevention in Black barbershops.
- Holt, C.L., Wynn, T.A., Lewis, I., Litaker, M.S., Jeames, S., Huckaby, F., Stroud, L., Southward, P.L., Simons, V., Lee, C., Ross, L. and Mitchell, T. (2009), "Development of a barbershop‐based cancer communication intervention", Health Education, Vol. 109 No. 3, pp. 213-225. https://doi.org/10.1108/09654280910955557
- Simons, V. Going to the Barbershop: Enhancing Men's Health in a Minority Community Setting. AUANews, 2009, Vol 14, Issue 4, p35.
- Releford BJ, Frencher SK Jr, Yancey AK. Health promotion in barbershops: balancing outreach and research in African American communities. Ethn Dis. 2010 Spring;20(2):185-8. PMID: 20503901; PMCID: PMC4244298.
- Luque, John & Rivers, Brian & Gwede, Clement & Kambon, Maisha & Green, B Lee & Meade, Cathy. (2011). Barbershop Communications on Prostate Cancer Screening Using Barber Health Advisers. American journal of men's health. 5. 129-39. 10.1177/1557988310365167.
- Luque JS, Ross L, Gwede CK. Qualitative systematic review of barber-administered health education, promotion, screening and outreach programs in African-American communities. J Community Health. 2014 Feb;39(1):181-90. doi: 10.1007/s10900-013-9744-3. PMID: 23913106; PMCID: PMC3947222.
- Laura A. Linnan, Heather D’Angelo, Cherise B. Harrington, A. Literature Synthesis of Health Promotion Research in Salons and Barbershops. American Journal of Preventive Medicine, Volume 47, Issue 1, 2014, pages 77-85.
Are we missing any barber shop efforts in your community? If so, please email details so we can acknowledge those efforts and learn from your work.
Working with your barber and/or barbers in your community
Please note: the following is just a suggested outline. Feel free to take what works for your community and Grow Your Own Way!
Leverage the month of June, National Men's Health Month, to work with your barber to plan a customer appreciation day. Begin planning during the April-May time frame to allow adequate preparation (establishing local partnerships, ordering materials, planning site set-up, training facilitators (if necessary), promoting your event, etc.).
Leverage the month of June, National Men's Health Month, to work with your barber to plan a customer appreciation day. Begin planning during the April-May time frame to allow adequate preparation (establishing local partnerships, ordering materials, planning site set-up, training facilitators (if necessary), promoting your event, etc.).
Refreshments are suggested.
Formal "focus group" style option: to facilitate the conversation(s), a trained facilitator(s) from within the community is suggested to help assure the unbiased capturing of community perspectives. It is suggested to leverage resources such as the NC Men's Health Report Card, and some sample conversation prompts:
We also suggest a tool kit for empowering participants with the knowledge and information necessary to address the issues at hand. Kits might include items such as:
Formal "focus group" style option: to facilitate the conversation(s), a trained facilitator(s) from within the community is suggested to help assure the unbiased capturing of community perspectives. It is suggested to leverage resources such as the NC Men's Health Report Card, and some sample conversation prompts:
- What are the most pressing men’s health & male cancer issues or problems facing our community?
- What do you feel are the unmet men’s health & male cancer survivor needs of our community?
- What do you think could be done to improve men’s health & male cancer risk in our community?
- In relation to men’s health & male cancers, are there any specific programs or services that you feel our community needs?
- In respect to men’s health & male cancer, are there any specific groups or populations that you feel are more underserved than others in our community?
We also suggest a tool kit for empowering participants with the knowledge and information necessary to address the issues at hand. Kits might include items such as:
- Testicular cancer self-check shower cards
- Rack cards to support prostate cancer awareness and survivorship
- Information about programs for men with cancer
- Information about mental health resources in your community
Out of these conversations a community specific action plan might be developed - a blueprint for positive change! Natural leaders emerge within the shops, and have to opportunity to engage and take on an important role in this powerful movement.
What's Next?
Local sponsorship involves identifying a trusted and appropriate non-profit in your local community to define and allocate funds directly back to supporting the prostate cancer/men's health related needs of your unique community.
This could involve supporting the local shop's Grow Your Own Way: Cuts & Conversations activities. Fundraising for community screening events is another popular option (in partnership with local health resources), though it is recommended to explore the quality of the screening prior to engagement. The goal of healthcare providers shouldn't be just to treat you when you’re sick, but to ideally keep you from getting sick in the first place. Health fairs and community screening events can provide an opportunity for those who don’t or can’t make regular doctor visits for regular screenings and to learn about other preventive health services, but some are driven by fee-for-service motives (although they might seem genuine on the surface). Another option is to consider holding a fundraiser for a man or men in your community who need follow-up care as cancer care can be expensive, even for those with "good health insurance."
All this can be great for promoting your brand and demonstrating your commitment to your community.
This could involve supporting the local shop's Grow Your Own Way: Cuts & Conversations activities. Fundraising for community screening events is another popular option (in partnership with local health resources), though it is recommended to explore the quality of the screening prior to engagement. The goal of healthcare providers shouldn't be just to treat you when you’re sick, but to ideally keep you from getting sick in the first place. Health fairs and community screening events can provide an opportunity for those who don’t or can’t make regular doctor visits for regular screenings and to learn about other preventive health services, but some are driven by fee-for-service motives (although they might seem genuine on the surface). Another option is to consider holding a fundraiser for a man or men in your community who need follow-up care as cancer care can be expensive, even for those with "good health insurance."
All this can be great for promoting your brand and demonstrating your commitment to your community.
Bonus option - practice conversations for barbers as health ambassadors!
Edgecombe County Barbershop Partnership - full PBS NC episode