Abstract A32: Developing a practical dissemination and implementation framework to accelerate adoption of cancer innovations
Authors: Lam Helen , Quinn Michael , Chandraskar Edwin , Patel Reena , Kim Karen 
Published: October 2015

Background: There is growing awareness of the gap between knowledge gained from cancer research and application of that knowledge in evidence-based practice (EBP) to improve cancer disparities. To achieve more widespread adoption, a more collaborative approach to working with different consumers of EBP, including potential recipients, is needed if we are to achieve meaningful population-level changes. This is especially important for medically underserved populations. In recent years, there has been a growing effort to bridge the knowledge and practice gap; however, the rates of adoption and implementation of EBP in cancer control remain low and the efforts remain unsystematic, uncoordinated, and insufficiently capitalized. In addition, there is a limited practical framework to inform the design of successful action plans for dissemination and implementation. Moreover, little attention has been paid to the contextual factors and what the users, or consumers, really needs and wants. In the practical world, it is the consumer's preexisting dispositions, preferences, perceptions, capacities, and behaviors, as they relate to the innovation in question, that matter the most in the decision-making process.

Framework Development: In our framework, we use a market oriented Push-Pull-Infrastructure Model to create a research and dissemination infrastructure to communicate, translate, and educate EBP health information to the targeted community. This model implies that a sole emphasis on supplying (Push) knowledge from science into practice is not going to work. It must be accompanied by both an increased demand (Pull) for the knowledge and an increase in capacity of the infrastructure to deliver the knowledge (Infrastructure). Achieving a wide adoption of an innovation requires a good fit between the attributes of an innovation, the adopting individual or organization, and the environment or context. In our framework, we also incorporate community-based participatory research (CBPR) approach to emphasis the involvement of targeted community to enhance the translation, dissemination and implementation process. In addition, the function of markets depends on the communication of information about available products. This can be achieved by using multiple formal and informal media. Thus, another major component in our framework is social influence. Social influence arises when an individual adapts his or her behaviors, attitudes, or beliefs to the behaviors, attitudes, or beliefs of others in the social system.

Conclusion: If we can trigger the demand (Pull) for evidence-based cancer innovations, whether the demand is explicit or implicit, we are likely to have more success with dissemination efforts. Evidence-based practice is essential in health care and health promotion. It provides direction and rationale for guiding health behaviors, decision-makings and treatment. Therefore, an innovative and a multi-level approach framework is needed to accelerate integration of lessons learned from science into community health care.

Funding Source: AHRQ 1R24HS022063-01

Citation Format: Helen Lam, Michael Quinn, Edwin Chandraskar, Reena Patel, Karen Kim. Developing a practical dissemination and implementation framework to accelerate adoption of cancer innovations. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Seventh AACR Conference on The Science of Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; Nov 9-12, 2014; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2015;24(10 Suppl):Abstract nr A32.