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Challenges to Replicating Evidence-Based Research in Real-World Settings: Training African-American peers as Patient Navigators for Colon Cancer Screening

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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.

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Notes

  1. The protocol was amended twice. In the first amendment, we sought a waiver of informed consent, because due to the move to telephone-based navigation, we felt it would be difficult to obtain written informed consent via mail.

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Acknowledgments

The authors would like to acknowledge the efforts of professional navigators, Stephanie Chappelle, Isabelle Peters, Marvin Aime, Rosa Lopez, and to the memory of Mrs. Cheryl Cox. We also thank the volunteer office staff of the respective hospitals that participated in this study. We also want to acknowledge the hard work and dedication of the peer volunteers, Ayesha Mohammed, Genevieve Harry, Frank Alexander, and Miguel Green, who remained enthusiastic about participating in the study despite its challenges. Their cooperation and help is/was invaluable and without them, this study could not have moved forward. Portions of this study were presented as a poster at the Fourth American Association of Cancer Research Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved.

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Correspondence to Jamilia R. Sly.

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Sly, J.R., Jandorf, L., Dhulkifl, R. et al. Challenges to Replicating Evidence-Based Research in Real-World Settings: Training African-American peers as Patient Navigators for Colon Cancer Screening. J Canc Educ 27, 680–686 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13187-012-0395-3

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Keywords

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