Abstract
Background/Aims The Cancer Research Network Cancer Communication Research Center (CCRC), one of five National Cancer Institute-funded Centers of Excellence in Cancer Communication Research, had the unique opportunity to collaborate with colleagues from the National Cancer Institute (NCI) to conduct real world testing of an NCI-developed decision aid. This abstract describes the feasibility and small scale implementation testing of the NCI-developed cancer prognostic tool, the Cancer Survival Query System (CSQS).
Methods A web-based prognostic tool, the CSQS was developed by the Statistics Research and Applications Branch of the NCI in 2008. It was designed for physicians to use so they could better understand and communicate with cancer patients valid estimates of their cancer survival within the context of all causes of death. Our research team at the CCRC has completed stage one feasibility testing of the CSQS tool in four health care delivery systems and will soon begin a small-scale implementation study of this tool in three health care delivery systems in Colorado. We are also proposing a more structured process of product development and developed a comprehensive plan for the dissemination and implementation of CSQS.
Results A total of 57 providers from four health care delivery systems participated in formal usability testing and semi-structured interviews. Providers perceived CSQS as a well-designed tool that has the potential of increasing provider efficiency delivering prognostic information, and improving patient experience and understanding of this information. Feedback from these providers informed the revision of the CSQS content and format, and the development of a structured, large-scale dissemination and implementation plan. An ongoing small-scale follow-up study is testing strategies for the dissemination and implementation of this web-based decision aid. Findings available to date from both studies will be discussed in this presentation.
Conclusions Development of decision aids that support patient-centered communication requires a multi-step, iterative process and the early engagement of multiple stakeholders including potential users and organizational decision makers. This case study exemplifies different aspects of this process and illustrates lessons learned in this area from the work in the CCRC.
