Challenges to replicating evidence-based research in real-world settings: training African-American peers as patient navigators for colon cancer screening. Academic Article uri icon

Overview

abstract

  • Many cancer-prevention interventions have demonstrated effectiveness in diverse populations, but these evidenced-based findings slowly disseminate into practice. The current study describes the process of disseminating and replicating research (i.e., peer patient navigation for colonoscopy screening) in real-world settings. Two large metropolitan hospitals collaborated to replicate a peer patient navigation model within their existing navigation systems. Six African-American peer volunteers were recruited and trained to navigate patients through colonoscopy scheduling and completion. Major challenges included: (1) operating within multiple institutional settings; (2) operating within nonacademic/research infrastructures; (3) integrating into an established navigation system; (4) obtaining support of hospital staff without overburdening; and (5) competing priorities and time commitments. Bridging the gap between evidence-based research and practice is critical to eliminating many cancer health disparities; therefore, it is crucial that researchers and practitioners continue to work to achieve both diffusion and fusion of evidence-based findings. Recommendations for addressing these challenges are discussed.

publication date

  • December 1, 2012

Research

keywords

  • Black or African American
  • Colonic Neoplasms
  • Early Detection of Cancer
  • Evidence-Based Medicine
  • Health Education
  • Health Personnel

Identity

PubMed Central ID

  • PMC3725586

Scopus Document Identifier

  • 84876291017

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

  • 10.1007/s13187-012-0395-3

PubMed ID

  • 22791543

Additional Document Info

volume

  • 27

issue

  • 4