Cancer Control Planners' Perceptions and Use of Evidence-Based Programs

Abstract

The Cancer Prevention and Control Research Network (CPCRN) surveyed 282 cancer control planners to inform its efforts to increase the use of evidence-based cancer control programs (EBPs; programs that have been scientifically tested and successfully changed behavior). Respondents included planners from organizations in state Comprehensive Cancer Control coalitions as well as other governmental and non-governmental organizations, and community-based coalitions.Respondents provided information about personal and organizational characteristics, their cancer control programs, their attitudes toward EBPs, and their awareness and use of Web-based NIH-PA Author ManuscriptNIH-PA Author Manuscript NIH-PA Author Manuscript resources for EBPs. Although findings showed strong preferences for cancer control programs that have been shown to work, less than half of respondents (48%) had ever used EBP resources. Regardless of whether they had used EBP resources, almost all respondents (97%) indicated that further training would help them and their organization adopt and adapt EBPs for use in their communities. The most frequently endorsed training needs were finding and securing additional resources (such as funding and technical assistance), followed by adapting EBPs for cultural appropriateness. The CPCRN consortium is using these findings to develop a Web-based interactive training and decision support tool that is responsive to the needs identified by the survey respondents.The U.S. National Cancer Institute calls for increased adoption of evidence-based programs (EBPs; interventions that are scientifically tested and successful in changing behavior) in their Strategic Plan for Leading the Nation. Evidence-Based Approaches Workgroup to address gaps in our community partners' awareness of and capacity to use EBPs.Apart from evaluation surveys of those attending EBP training sessions or using EBP resources, we were unable to find audience research assessing cancer control planners' perceptions of EBPs or their needs for EBP training. We elected to conduct a survey of community-based cancer control planners to assess their awareness of and willingness to use EBPs, their awareness and use of current EBP resources, and their perceived training needs to use EBPs. We reasoned that knowledge gained from this survey would serve as a critical first step in identifying gaps in cancer control planners' awareness and capacity to use EBPs and enable the Evidence-Based Approaches Workgroup and other dissemination and implementation scientists to create resources to fill these gaps. MethodsSample CPCRN partner organizations include (but are not limited to) government agencies, health care delivery organizations, voluntary health and service organizations, community-based organizations, and members of state Comprehensive Cancer Control coalitions. To meet the goals of obtaining a representative sample of our partner organizations and collecting all data in a 3-month time period, Centers agreed that it would be feasible to complete ...

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