The project consortium is pleased to officially announce the launch of the PIECES study to evaluate the online Primary Cancer Prevention Implementation Toolkit (PCP-IT), which is designed to guide implementers through the process of selecting and adapting primary cancer prevention programmes by identifying and addressing barriers and developing and applying tailored implementation strategies.
The primary aim of the PIECES study is to support and learn from the process of selecting, adapting and implementing existing evidence-based programmes in order to improve implementation outcomes, thereby increasing the reach and effectiveness of primary cancer prevention programmes in real-world settings. The study aims are:
— To assess whether the PCP-IT is usable and whether implementation teams are satisfied with the tool.
— To assess what works for whom in using the PCP-IT to select, adapt and implement PCP programmes.
— To assess whether the PCP-IT is feasible and effective in improving the uptake, delivery, fidelity and sustainability of PCP programmes.
A multi-site case comparison design will be used to generate in-depth knowledge about the performance and working mechanisms of the PCP-IT. The modular toolkit will be implemented by teams based in Spain, the Netherlands, Albania, the UK, Italy, Ukraine, Germany and Ireland. The geographical diversity and variety of socio-cultural realities of the implementation sites and the heterogeneity of the PCP programmes provide a natural environment to gain an understanding of the successful improvement and up-scaling of PCP-IT.
Similarities, differences, and patterns across the cases (i.e. different implementation settings) will be investigated using a Realist Evaluation approach (Salter & Kothari, 2014; Wong et al., 2016). Questionnaires and interviews will be used to understand how the toolkit works in practice and to identify areas for improvement. The results of this evaluation study have the potential to improve cancer screening and improve the quality of life and health of patients.