Development of an implementation and evaluation strategy for the Australian ‘Zero Childhood Cancer’ (Zero) Program: a study protocol

Abstract

IntroductionEffective implementation of a research Program requires an actionable plan to guide execution. To assess the actionability and success of that plan, both scientific and implementation elements must be taken into account. The aim of this study is to assess the ‘Zero Childhood Cancer Personalised Medicine Program’ (the Zero Program), an Australian first-ever and most comprehensive personalised medicine programme for children with high-risk or relapsed cancer, in terms of its structure, process and implementational effect.Methods and analysisWe will assess Program delivery mechanisms. The development of the implementation and evaluation strategy will concentrate on the work of the Zero Program as a complex whole. This includes the structure of collaborative links across stakeholder groups involved in Program development and delivery, changes to collaborative relationships over time and the impact of group working on Program outcomes. We are applying a mixed-methods design including: a rapid ethnography (observations of stakeholder interactions and informal conversations), Program professionals’ completion of a rapid health implementation proforma and a social network analysis. Formative evaluations of the implementation science effects, applying feedback techniques, for example, Formative Evaluation Feedback Loops and the Zero Program professionals’ feedback, will determine where Program tailoring may be needed. A repeat of the social network analysis downstream will examine network changes over time, followed by an expert panel using the expert recommendations for implementing change to assess the integration of implementation strategies into the Program structure. A summative evaluation of the Program will bring the research elements together, leading to comprehensive data triangulation and determining the sustainability and implementational effects of Program delivery.Ethics and disseminationEthical approval for this study has been granted by Hunter New England Research Ethics Committee, New South Wales, Australia (approval ref: 2019/ETH12025). Knowledge translation will be achieved through publications, reports and conference presentations to healthcare professionals, patients, families and researchers.Trial RegistrationNCT03336931; Pre-results.

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“…This demonstrated how WES can assist in finding potential treatment alternatives for advanced cancers refractory to SOC therapies. Similarly, the Zero Childhood Cancer program have utilized whole genome sequencing (WGS) in combination with cell and PDX models, further demonstrating the feasibility of this platform ( 50 , 51 ). Applying PDEs to screen drugs targeting actionable mutations may present a useful preclinical drug efficacy model.…”

Developing a novel psychographic-behavioral qualitative mapping method for exergames

“…The proforma included a total of 25 open-ended questions. Proformas differ from structured interviews or closed question surveys [46,47] which are highly formalized and can be rigid. Instead, the proforma is a qualitative data collection tool taking the form of an open-ended, text-box survey, containing several specific open-ended questions [48,49].…”

Translating research into practice—implementation recommendations for pediatric rheumatology; Proceedings of the childhood arthritis and rheumatology research alliance 2020 implementation science retreat

“…The implementation of clinical research findings in pediatric rheumatology is additionally challenging due to a limited evidence base, a paucity of clinical trials involving potential therapeutics, rarity of the conditions, and disease heterogeneity. Application of implementation science methods to promote systematic uptake of research findings [ 12 ] has been shown to decrease the knowledge-to-practice gaps in several pediatric clinical areas [ 13 ], including childhood asthma [ 14 ] and pediatric cancer precision medicine [ 15 ]. However, very little implementation work has occurred in the field of pediatric rheumatology.…”