Field Guide for Assessing Readiness to Implement Evidence-Based Cancer Screening Interventions

Overview

The Field Guide for Assessing Readiness to Implement Evidence-Based Cancer Screening Interventions helps public health and health care organizations assess primary care clinics' readiness to implement new and enhance existing evidence-based interventions (EBIs) to increase cancer screening. The guide provides adaptable resources for collecting, evaluating, interpreting, and using assessment data to develop practical implementation plans for use in primary care clinics.

The Field Guide is designed for award (funding) recipients of CDC's Colorectal Cancer Control Program (CRCCP) and their clinic partners. However, other cancer screening and chronic disease programs can adapt the Field Guide to assess clinic-level readiness to implement EBIs. For this Guide, readiness is defined as tangible indicators of a clinic's commitment and resources to implement EBIs for cancer screening.

CRCCP award recipients are required to assess each clinic partner's readiness to implement cancer screening EBIs. These assessments help recipients choose EBIs that fit the needs of providers and patients at each clinic. The Field Guide uses assessment measures and tools that are specific to CDC priority EBIs for cancer screening. The Field Guide reflects health systems' and clinic partners' needs and can be used for various recipient and clinic partner settings and situations.

Field guide phases

• Phase 1: Convene Team Members and Determine Assessment Activities
• Phase 2: Design and Administer the Readiness Assessment
• Phase 3: Evaluate Assessment Data
• Phase 4: Develop an Implementation Plan

Adaptable resources

This guide includes the following resources for recipients to adapt to their specific settings:

• A checklist of activities to guide you through completing a readiness assessment.
• Suggestions for identifying and convening assessment team members.
• Example tools and strategies to design a readiness assessment that meets CDC requirements.
• Issues to consider as you use assessment data to develop practical implementation plans with clinics.
• Answers to questions that recipients ask frequently.

Acknowledgements

The Field Guide is a product of the Alliance for Reducing Cancer, Northwest at the University of Washington Health Promotion Research Center (UW HPRC). The UW Health Promotion Research Center is a member of the Prevention Research Centers program, supported by CDC. Additional support for this guide was provided by the National Association of Chronic Disease Directors. Recommendations in this guide are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official position of the CDC.

This work would not have been possible without the support of CRCCP award recipients and CDC CRCCP program consultants who provided their resources, time, and insight. We would like to thank the CRCCP recipients whose contributions are reflected here: California AltaMed Health Services, Colorado Department of Public Health, Florida Department of Health Colorectal Cancer Control Program, Illinois Colon CARES (Cancer Alliance to Reignite and Enhance Screening), Michigan Department of Health and Human Services Colorectal Cancer Control Program, New Hampshire Colorectal Cancer Screening Program, South Carolina Department of Health Colorectal Cancer Screening Program, Quality Health Associates of North Dakota, and Washington State Department of Health Breast, Cervical, and Colon Cancer Program.