A new peer-reviewed article titled “International multi-stakeholder collaboration to support implementation of cancer care efficiency metrics: a qualitative study to develop the All.Can Action Guide” has been published in the journal Health Research Policy and Systems.
The open-access paper details the qualitative research and international multi-stakeholder collaboration that informed the development of the All.Can Action Guide, a tool designed to support the implementation of cancer care efficiency metrics.
Background and Objectives
Improving efficiency in cancer care is recognised as a priority for sustainable healthcare systems, yet measuring efficiency remains a challenge. All.Can previously identified eight key cancer care metrics across three core domains:
- Timeliness of care
- Coordination of care
- Patient-centeredness
The objective of this qualitative study was to identify the specific barriers and enablers to implementing these eight metrics within diverse international healthcare contexts.
Study Methodology and Key Findings
The research was conducted in collaboration with the global All.Can community and involved semi-structured interviews with 40 experts across 21 countries. The thematic analysis revealed distinct implementation factors:
- Timeliness and Coordination Metrics: Implementation is heavily influenced by structural and regulatory factors. Primary barriers include fragmented data regulations, lack of data interoperability between databases and a lack of standardised professional definitions (e.g., for oncology care coordinators). Primary enablers include national cancer strategies and standardized clinical pathways.
- Patient-Centered Metrics: Implementation of patient-reported metrics depends largely on political and financial factors. Financial resource constraints and a lack of systematic data collection strategies serve as prominent barriers, while patient advocacy acts as an enabler to adoption.
Application to the All.Can Action Guide
The findings from this study directly informed the structure and content of the All.Can Action Guide, which launched in September 2024. The guide translates these qualitative insights into a non-linear digital tool, providing targeted action steps for policymakers, healthcare providers, and patient advocates to address implementation challenges.
The full study is available to read via SpringerLink.
Journal Reference:
International multi-stakeholder collaboration to support implementation of cancer care efficiency metrics: a qualitative study to develop the All.Can Action Guide.
[Link: Article]