Background and Context:
The World Health Organization’s Global Action Plan promotes the formation and implementation of cancer management strategies. To date, a minority of countries has developed comprehensive breast cancer control plans – a missed opportunity to address the largest cancer-related cause of mortality for women worldwide. Because of variation in resource levels, prevalence, and cultural factors across regions, existing guidelines cannot be generalized.
Aim:
Our objective is to produce Knowledge Summaries as a resource-stratified tool to coordinate breast cancer services within a larger health system. The Knowledge Summaries are concise, topic-directed, evidence-based documents intended to guide policy interventions and clinical practice.
Strategy/Tactics:
A review of over 4000 published clinical studies, economic and cost analysis, and existing guidelines was performed. The findings are summarized and communicated in a parallel fashion for policymakers and clinicians - establishing a common language for cancer control. The framework for the Knowledge Summaries is shaped by the validated resource-stratified guidelines from the Breast Health Global Initiative and normative work from the World Health Organization.
Programme/Policy Process:
Sixteen Knowledge Summaries have been developed addressing the full spectrum of cancer control from planning to advocacy and prevention to palliation. Rather than prescriptive guidelines, Knowledge Summaries provide specific goals for the development of comprehensive breast cancer care along a Pathway, recognizing variations that exist between and within health systems. This toolkit highlights foundational questions and answers across the life-course, facilitates multi-sectoral involvement, promotes equity, and empowers people and communities.
Outcomes/What was learned:
Expert reviewers from all resource levels have contributed to these Summaries. Potential partners and test sites have been identified for implementation and validation of this tool.