"Guidelines" Implementation

The Breast Health Global Initiative (BHGI) operates as a structure for linkages, research and pilot projects. The linkages are between three (3) core communities: Clinical Community, Advocacy / Non-Governmental Organizations; and Public Health Research.

Goals

The goal of the BHGI program is to successfully implement the BHGI guidelines in LMCs to improve breast cancer morbidity and mortality among disadvantaged women in these countries.

In order to successfully implement the BHGI guidelines in LMCs, three needs must be addressed. First, dissemination and implementation strategies need to be developed such that the guideline adoption takes place. Rather than assuming we know the optimal approaches to information transfer in LMCs, varied strategies need to be explored and studied in different LMC environments. Second, education of the public, health care providers and health system administrators is necessary for guideline adoption to be successful and sustained. Third, effective and affordable technology for detection, diagnosis and treatment must be achieved in target LMCs so that cancer diagnosis and treatment is correctly performed.

Thus, the specific aims of the BHGI implementation program is to develop programmatic strategies in three key focus areas: 1) dissemination & implementation (D&I) research; 2) education and training; and 3) technology assessment, application and development.

The implementation of these 3 interlocking, interrelated programmatic aims will take place in international BHGI Learning Laboratories developed in collaboration with governments and institutional centers of excellence in target LMCs. BHGI Learning Laboratories will create unique environments for information transfer, collaborative learning, study and analysis. The BHGI Learning Laboratories will be created in collaboration between BHGI and in-country sponsoring organizations and will use curricula and methodology developed through the BHGI guidelines. These collaborations will be based on the already existing BHGI network of organizations. Plans are currently under development for Learning Laboratories in both low-income and middle-income countries.

Objectives

The principle objective of the BHGI is to improve breast cancer outcome among women from underserved communities through the successful dissemination and implementation of BHGI guidelines. The principle target is LMCs, although the same principles apply to underserved populations in high-income countries. Additionally:

• Motivate research and pilot projects (funded by outside sources) based upon the data, direction and insight of the breast health Guidelines.
• Elevate and cultivate advocacy and awareness on the issues of breast health and breast cancer in developing countries of the world and seek to serve as an instrument for improvement.
• Track Guidelines implementation in differing geographic and cultural regions to quantify and analyze statistical improvements in women's health (i.e. earlier diagnoses, decreased mortality).
• Facilitate breast health care reform using evidence-based guidelines that specifically address issues created by resource limitations (breast health care reform being initiated by appropriate health care providers, authorities and agencies).

Pilot Research and Demonstration Project (PRP) Progress Report

January 2008

In September 2006, BHGI established an international research program funded through a special $500,000 award to BHGI by the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation for the implementation of the BHGI guidelines and launched its first call for PRP. PRPs for implementation will link to the 2006 Guidelines on International Breast Health and Cancer Control to validate and expand upon future iteration of the Guidelines while providing essential data on breast health and cancer control in developing countries.

Pilot projects are intended to address early detection, diagnosis, treatment, and health care systems in geographically and culturally different areas of the world.

Four PRPs (Romania, Colombia, Indonesia, Uganda) were approved last year, 2007, to receive funds; an additional project (in Turkey) was approved this year, 2008.

BHGI 2007 AWARDS
PILOT RESEARCH AND DEMONSTRATION PROJECTS