Adapting and implementing breast cancer follow-up in primary care: protocol for a mixed methods hybrid type 1...

Area of Science:

• Implementation science
• Primary care research
• Cancer survivorship

Background:

• Growing number of breast cancer survivors require long-term care.
• Primary care's role in survivorship care is crucial but lacks clear guidance.
• Need for evidence-based strategies to integrate survivorship care into primary care.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and evaluate an actionable, evidence-based intervention for breast cancer survivorship care in primary care.
• To enhance the delivery of comprehensive follow-up care, symptom management, and risk management for breast cancer survivors.
• To explore implementation facilitators and barriers within primary care settings.

Main Methods:

• Multi-phase, mixed-methods, stakeholder-driven research using EPIS and PCM frameworks.
• Iterative clinical intervention implemented in 26 primary care practices via cluster randomized design.
• Multi-component implementation strategies including facilitation, audit/feedback, and learning collaboratives.

Main Results:

• Primary outcome: comprehensive breast cancer follow-up care.
• Implementation assessed via mixed methods at 6 and 12 months post-intervention.
• Focus on organizational and contextual factors influencing adoption and sustainability.

Conclusions:

• Findings will inform scalable interventions for breast cancer survivorship care in primary care.
• Potential to guide development of similar interventions for other cancer types.
• Successful implementation could lead to national dissemination efforts.