Mapping stakeholders for developing cancer research in Small Island Developing States: a descriptive study from the...

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Epidemiology
• Health Policy

Background:

• High cancer mortality in Small Island Developing States (SIDS) is exacerbated by a lack of local epidemiological data.
• Effective stakeholder engagement is crucial for advancing cancer research and control initiatives in SIDS.
• The Cancer in Small Island Developing States of the Eastern Caribbean (CaSIDEC) study aims to address these gaps.

Purpose of the Study:

• To map cancer control stakeholders within the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) for the CaSIDEC study.
• To assess stakeholder power and interest to inform engagement strategies.
• To categorize stakeholders based on their potential influence and involvement in cancer research.

Main Methods:

• Stakeholders were identified through professional networks, snowballing, and public directories.
• Power and interest were scored based on available information and past interactions.
• Stakeholders were categorized into engagement typologies (promoters, latent, advocates, bystanders) and analyzed using descriptive statistics, with country-specific variations examined.

Main Results:

• Of 159 identified stakeholders, 96 were analyzed, comprising supporters (36%), policymakers (32%), implementers (18%), and civil society leaders (14%).
• Overall mean scores for interest (4.5/10) and power (4.7/10) were low.
• Stakeholders were distributed across typologies: latent (29%), bystanders (28%), advocates (23%), and promoters (20%), with implementers and policymakers forming the majority of promoters. Significant country-level variations in policymaker and implementer representation were observed.

Conclusions:

• This is the first stakeholder mapping for an epidemiological study in the Caribbean, revealing low interest in large-scale epidemiological research, similar to other developing regions.
• Cancer support groups and implementers emerged as key advocates for this research.
• Findings provide a foundation for strategies to enhance political will, generate new knowledge, and inform cancer control policy in SIDS.