Maximizing Benefits for Effective Cancer Survivorship Programming: Defining a Dissemination and Implementation Plan

Abstract

Although calls for improvements in cancer survivorship planning and programming exist, implementation has lagged. As with most guidelines, moving from recommendations to implementation requires active planning and systems changes to insure sustained use. Here, we draw on the latest in implementation science to outline a process that cancer organizations can use in designing, implementing, prioritizing, and evaluating cancer survivor programs to improve patient outcomes, using smoking cessation as a primary example. We consider the scientific evidence for benefit from interventions and the strategy for implementation and evaluation to sustain programs.