Online course: Implementation science in cancer control

A broad range of proven, cost‑effective interventions and policies for the prevention and control of cancer exists, yet their implementation is uneven and ineffective. There are substantial gaps in implementation across different local contexts, hindering maximum impact and equitable progress. Implementation research is a critical set of methods, measures, and study designs that supports the effective adoption, implementation, and sustainability of evidence-based interventions into routine, real-world settings, and ensures these can deliver concrete impact in reducing the burden of cancer in populations. By shifting the focus from what to implement to how to implement effectively, implementation research can help interventions be adopted and implemented keeping in mind context, using strategies to overcome barriers and therefore ensuring sustainability and scalability.

This course aims to provide programme managers and healthcare practitioners in cancer control, whether operating at community level, in healthcare settings, for civil society or public health agencies, with the foundational knowledge and practical guidance on how to leverage implementation research to maximise the likelihood that interventions are adopted, implemented and sustained, while achieving population-level outcomes.

This course was made possible thanks to the guidance and educational support of key implementation research experts across many institutions, including the National Cancer Institute (USA), the Center for Advancing Dissemination and Implementation Science at the University of New Mexico, the Global Center for Implementation Science at New York University, the Institute for Implementation Science at the University of Texas, and the Alliance for Health Policy and Systems Research.