Revisiting time to translation implementation of evidence-based practices (EBPs) in cancer control

• Published in: Cancer causes & control Vol. 32; no. 3; pp. 221 - 230
• Main Authors: Khan, Shahnaz, Chambers, David, Neta, Gila
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Cham Springer Science + Business Media 01.03.2021; Springer International Publishing; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Biomedical and Life Sciences; Biomedicine; Cancer; Cancer Research; Cancer screening; Colorectal cancer; Colorectal carcinoma; Epidemiology; Evidence-based practice; Evidence-Based Practice - statistics & numerical data; Hematology; Human papillomavirus; Humans; Immunization; Implementation Science; Mammography; Medical screening; Neoplasms - prevention & control; Oncology; ORIGINAL PAPER; Primary Prevention; Public Health; Smoking; Translation; Vaccination; Translation; Cancer control; Implementation; Uptake; Evidence-based practice
• ISSN: 0957-5243; 1573-7225; 1573-7225
• DOI: 10.1007/s10552-020-01376-z

Purpose Previous studies estimate translation of research evidence into practice takes 17 years. However, this estimate is not specific to cancer control evidence-based practices (EBPs), nor do these studies evaluate variation in the translational process. We examined the translational pathway of cancer control EBPs. Methods We selected five cancer control EBPs where data on uptake were readily available. Years from landmark publication to clinical guideline issuance to implementation, defined as 50% uptake, were measured. The translational pathway for each EBP was mapped and an average total time across EBPs was calculated. Results Five cancer control EBPs were included: mammography, clinicians’ advice to quit smoking, colorectal cancer screening, HPV co-testing, and HPV vaccination. Time from publication to implementation ranged from 13 to 21 years, averaging 15 years. Time from publication to guideline issuance ranged from 3 to 17 years, and from guideline issuance to implementation, − 4 to 12 years. Clinician’s advice to quit smoking, HPV co-testing, and HPV vaccination were most rapidly implemented; colorectal cancer screening and mammography were slowest to implement. Conclusion The average time to implementation was 15 years for the five EBPs we evaluated, a marginal improvement from prior findings. Although newer EBPs such as HPV vaccination and HPV co-testing were faster to implement than other EBPs, continued efforts in implementation science to speed research to practice are needed.