In Poland, the CO-CAPTAIN pilot is being implemented under the coordination of the Medical University of Lodz. Led by Professor Magdalena Wrzesińska — a recognised expert in public health and healthcare innovation — the team brings strong academic leadership combined with hands-on involvement. Professor Wrzesińska not only oversees the national rollout but also serves as one of the project’s Patient Navigators, exemplifying a grounded and people-centred approach.
A Multidisciplinary Team, A Shared Purpose
The pilot is coordinated by the Department of Psychosocial Rehabilitation, with key members including Dr Magdalena Kostyła (psychologist; pilot coordinator and navigator), Jarosław Rakoczy (psychologist; navigator), and Magdalena Stachurska-Latkowska (recovery assistant and navigator). The Department of Sociology, led by Dr Magdalena Wieczorkowska, also plays a crucial role by supporting qualitative data analysis.
Together, this team is implementing and continuously evaluating a navigation-based intervention aimed at supporting individuals living with mental ill-health in adopting healthier behaviours — with a focus on primary cancer prevention.
Connecting with the Community
Thanks to an extensive outreach campaign involving posters, leaflets, and active social media engagement, the pilot has reached over 560 individuals and recruited 101 participants.
As of now, 95 participants have completed the T1 phase, 34 have reached T2, and one participant has progressed to T3. The project continues to show promising engagement and retention levels across stages.
A Tailored Intervention with Real-Life Impact
Patient Navigators are working side-by-side with participants to identify barriers and provide support across six key prevention areas:
- Nutrition / Diet / Obesity
- Physical Activity
- Smoking Cessation
- Risky Health Behaviours
- Vaccination
These actions are not delivered through a standardised protocol, but rather adapted to each individual’s context, offering guidance, motivation, and emotional support where it’s most needed.
Health Promotion through Education
Between January and June 2025, the team ran a series of public workshops on healthy lifestyles, delivered by students of Physiotherapy and Public Health under the guidance of Magdalena Wrzesińska and Magdalena Kostyła. The sessions were warmly received by participants and served as a powerful tool for peer-to-peer learning and community building.
In September, a public lecture entitled “A Kitchen Full of Health – What to Eat to Reduce Cancer Risk” was delivered by Professor Wrzesińska in collaboration with the Medical University’s Academy of Healthy Aging. The event attracted broad interest and sparked meaningful dialogue about nutrition and cancer prevention.
A Pilot Fully Aligned with CO-CAPTAIN’s Vision
The Łódź pilot illustrates how CO-CAPTAIN’s Patient Navigation model can be translated into real, measurable outcomes through local commitment and community engagement. The combination of academic leadership, local partnerships, and a deeply human-centred approach makes the Poland pilot a valuable contributor to the project’s long-term goal: building a more inclusive, accessible, and equitable model of cancer prevention for all.
