Dissemination of Cancer Survivorship Research: Meeting Summary

Discussion Questions

1. What criteria should be met in deciding whether an intervention is ready for dissemination (e.g. level of evidence, research synthesis)?

• CONSORT: The CONSORT statement is an explanatory resource designed to improve reporting of randomized trials.
• Cost-Effectiveness: Costs of training staff and implementing the intervention need to be affordable.
• Documentation: Interventions need to be standardized and documented so that they are transportable and replicable.


• Efficacy: Results should be replicated in more than one study before adopting an activity.


• Generalizability: Studies must be conducted with representative samples. Few cancer survivorship studies reflect the multicultural face of America, and the comorbidities that are particularly a fact of aging. Additionally, few intervention studies include both patients and their family caregivers.


• Mechanisms for Updating Materials: Mechanisms for updating interventions (e.g. materials) should be in place to meet the evolving needs of cancer survivors and their families.


• Meaningful Findings: Sufficient evidence demonstrating the importance and impact of the intervention for survivors and their families is vital.


• Targeted Outcomes: Generic or universal interventions often are of limited utility; interventions may need to be tailored to the needs of specific survivor populations (e.g. highly distressed patients).


• Theoretical and Empirical Basis: Findings should be based on a theoretical and empirical basis.

* Note: Chambless and Hollon, 1998 indicated three broad criteria for evaluating best practices in psychosocial interventions:

• Efficacy – Is this a clinically significant thing?
• Effectiveness – Can it work in organizations and agencies?
• Efficiency – Is it cost-effective?