Developing a national implementation strategy to accelerate uptake of evidence‐based family caregiver support in U.S. cancer centers
Open accessAbstract
OBJECTIVE: Characterize key factors and training needs of U.S. cancer centers in implementing family caregiver support services. METHODS: Sequential explanatory mixed methods design consisting of: (1) a national survey of clinicians and administrators from Commission-on-Cancer-accredited cancer centers (N = 238) on factors and training needed for establishing new caregiver programs and (2) qualitative interviews with a subsample of survey respondents (N = 30) to elicit feedback on survey findings and the outline of an implementation strategy to facilitate implementation of evidence-based family caregiver support (the Caregiver Support Accelerator). Survey data was tabulated using descriptive statistics and transcribed interviews were analyzed using thematic analysis. RESULTS: Top factors for developing new caregiver programs were that the program be: consistent with the cancer center's mission and strategic plan (87%), supported by clinic leadership (86.5%) and providers and staff (85.7%), and low cost or cost effective (84.9%). Top training needs were how to: train staff to implement programs (72.3%), obtain program materials (63.0%), and evaluate program outcomes (62.6%). Only 3.8% reported that no training was needed. Qualitative interviews yielded four main themes: (1) gaining leadership, clinician, and staff buy-in and support is essential; (2) cost and clinician burden are major factors to program implementation; (3) training should help with adapting and marketing programs to local context and culture; and (4) the Accelerator strategy is comprehensive and would benefit from key organizational partnerships and policy standards. CONCLUSION: Findings will be used to inform and refine the Accelerator implementation strategy to facilitate the adoption and growth of evidence-based cancer caregiver support in U.S. cancer centers.
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Although over 100 clinical trials showed positive outcomes for cancer caregivers, fewer than 12% of U.S. cancer centers had integrated these programs into routine care.
“Odom et al. [5,6] reported that although over 100 clinical trials showed positive outcomes for cancer caregivers, fewer than 12% of U.S. cancer centers had integrated these programs into routine care.”
From Home care comparison (2026) · cites this paper as [5]
The Background reports over 100 published trials and says systematic reviews found positive outcomes for caregivers. It also reports that, among 238 surveyed cancer centers, 8% had a caregiver program developed from published findings and 12% chose services because evidence supported their effectiveness. Neither figure directly measures whether programs were integrated into routine care across U.S. cancer centers. (LLM, conf=0.86)
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- Authors
- Odom, J. N., Young, H. M., Sterba, K., Sannes, T. S., Reinhard, S., Nightingale, C. L., Meier, D., Gray, T. F., Ferrell, B., Fernandez, M. E., Donovan, H., Curry, K., Currie, E. R., Bryant, T., Bakitas, M. A., & Applebaum, A. J.
- Affiliations
- School of Nursing University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) Birmingham Alabama USA
- University of California, Davis (US)
- Medical University of South Carolina (US)
- UMass Memorial Medical Center (US)
- AARP (US)
- Wake Forest University Health Sciences (US)
- Mount Sinai Hospital (US)
- Harvard University (US)
- City Of Hope National Medical Center (US)
- Department of Health Promotion and Behavioral Sciences University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston School of Public Health Houston Texas USA
- University of Pittsburgh (US)
- University of Alabama at Birmingham (US)
- Viva Health, Inc. Birmingham Alabama USA
- Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (US)
- ORCID
- Venue
- Psycho-Oncology
- Publisher
- Wiley
- Published
- 2023-09-25
- Volume
- 33
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- e6221-e6221
- ISSN
- 1057-9249 (ISSN-L)
- 1099-1611
- PMC
- PMC10896495
- OpenAlex
- W4387002035
- Cited by
- 15
- References
- 33
- Citations by year
- 2026: 6 · 2025: 4 · 2024: 5
- FWCI
- 5.31
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- green
- www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- Locations
- Psycho-Oncology (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
- eScholarship (California Digital Library) (submittedVersion)
- Digital Commons-TMC (Texas Medical Center) (submittedVersion)
- Funders
- Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation
- Topics
- Health Sciences › Health Professions › General Health Professions › Health Policy Implementation Science
- Health Sciences › Health Professions › Pharmacy › Nursing care and research
- Health Sciences › Health Professions › General Health Professions › Health Sciences Research and Education
- Keywords
- family caregiver support, cancer centers, implementation strategies, evidence-based care, staff training needs, organizational leadership, program costs, clinician burden, program adaptation, organizational partnerships, Commission on Cancer accreditation
- MeSH terms
- Ambulatory Care Facilities, Health Services, Humans, Neoplasms, Caregivers
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