Throughout recent months, the CO-CAPTAIN project has continued to make steady progress in its pilot sites across Austria, Greece, Poland, and Spain, maintaining a strong commitment to improving access to cancer prevention through a person-centred approach — especially for individuals living with mental ill-health.
As of August 2025, more than 1,200 people have been contacted across the four pilot countries, with 262 enrolled in the programme. Over 190 participants are now actively engaged in follow-up phases (T1–T3), reflecting not only robust operational progress but also growing acceptance of the navigation model within local communities.
Each pilot is developing according to its context, offering valuable insights. In Spain, 77 individuals have been contacted and 75 enrolled, with 57 already in the T1 follow-up phase. This remarkably high recruitment rate demonstrates strong trust in the model. In Poland, 539 people have been approached and 82 recruited, with 77 in T1 and 17 already moving on to T2 — a sign of highly structured and sustained engagement. In Austria, 60 of the 439 contacted individuals have joined the programme, with 25 in follow-up. Meanwhile, in Greece, 45 participants have been recruited out of 155 contacted, with 31 currently in T1.
Beyond the numbers, early qualitative findings suggest that the relationship between participants and navigators is a key factor in building trust, ensuring continuity, and improving access to cancer prevention services. Emotional support, clear and respectful communication, and assistance in overcoming practical barriers are helping many individuals reach healthcare services that once felt inaccessible or out of reach.
These advances validate CO-CAPTAIN’s commitment to a more equitable, human-centred model of prevention — one that considers not only clinical needs, but also the social, emotional, and structural realities that shape people’s ability to care for their health.
We continue with the same dedication: placing people at the heart of prevention, so that no one is left behind for lack of support.
To learn more about the pilot sites and the navigation model, visit: https://cocaptain.eu/pilots/
