Theoretical conceptions of intervention research addressing cancer control issues

Population health intervention research (PHIR) involves the use of scientific methods to produce knowledge about policy and program interventions that operate within or outside of the health sector and have the potential to impact health at the population level. PHIR is a relatively new research field that has gained momentum internationally. When developing PHIR, it is important to have a program theory with the potential to increase intervention success by identifying underlying mechanisms, areas of failure and unintended outcomes. Since 2010, the French National Cancer Institute (Institut National du Cancer-INCa) has supported a national, competitive, dedicated call for proposals in PHIR to tackle cancer control issues. After 5 years of activity, specific analysis of the proposals submitted for funding and/or funded (n = 63) from descriptive and analytic perspectives was called for. Analysis of the data revealed diversity in terms of targeted populations, partnerships engaged and methodological approaches. Projects were more likely to be funded (n = 15) if presented with a robust methodological approach and diversity in methodology, and/or with research objectives at different levels of action. The analysis also revealed that researchers do not explicitly describe theoretical constructs underpinning their interventions to combat cancer. PHIR still needs improvement to better incorporate social, institutional and policy approaches to cancer control. Researchers should apply a theory-driven approach to distinguish between 'program failure' and 'theory failure'. Following up the funded projects will allow successes and failures to be evaluated with respect to the use (or non-use) of theory-driven approaches.