The PIECES Study is progressing well in Spain, where a number of institutions are actively using the Primary Cancer Prevention Implementation Toolkit (PCP‑IT) to address different cancer risk factors. This online, modular toolkit helps teams select, adapt, and plan primary cancer prevention programmes tailored to their local settings and population needs. Alongside Spain, teams in the Netherlands, Albania, the United Kingdom, Italy, Ukraine, Germany, and Ireland are also applying the toolkit in diverse real‑world contexts.
In Spain, implementation teams are active in four hospitals with diverse characteristics -including, occupational health units, and in one Nursing faculty. Their work focuses on three key cancer risk factors: tobacco use, physical inactivity, and sun exposure. Using the evidence‑based programmes available in the PIECES Repository—an essential part of the PCP‑IT—hospitals are incorporating prevention initiatives into their occupational health services, such as introducing active breaks to reduce sedentary behaviour in the workplace as a first step to prevent physical inactivity. Meanwhile, the Nursing Faculty is developing a multicomponent intervention that includes health-promotion activities on photoprotection habits, increasing students’ knowledge, and conducting awareness-raising activities within the community to help reduce risks associate with UV exposure.
Experiences with PCP‑IT: What Spanish Teams Are Saying
Spanish implementers have reported that the toolkit has been particularly helpful in several ways. One recurring theme is the value of learning from practical examples. Access to case studies and programmes from other countries and institutions has given teams ideas they can adapt to their own contexts.
The toolkit has also sparked motivation and creativity. By presenting a variety of approaches and experiences, PCP‑IT has helped teams look at familiar challenges from new angles and encouraged them to explore innovative solutions.
Another strength frequently mentioned is the clear structure of the toolkit. Its modular format guides teams step by step, helping them organise their work, plan activities in a logical order, and keep their implementation efforts on track.
Finally, teams have found that PCP‑IT makes the implementation process run more smoothly. By simplifying planning and helping identify the right stakeholders to involve, the toolkit reduces uncertainty and supports more effective programme delivery.
Areas for improvement
The implementation sites also identified several areas for improvement, including the need to incorporate programmes in the repository that are better aligned with local contexts and populations, particularly those that do not require additional financial resources. More broadly, the main challenges reported relate to limited financial and human resources.
Overall, the implementers’ experience with the toolkit has been positive and has provided a valuable opportunity to strengthen their knowledge and apply evidence‑based programmes within their organizations.