Abstract
Under the recent trend of an increasing number of cancer survivors, there is a need to devise measures for visualization of medical care and public health programs related to cancer control, which will enable better overview of the activities at hospitals and local communities and allow various stakeholders to share the information about such activities. The aim of this study was to propose a new tool for proper implementation of cancer information and support programs provided under the national cancer control policy in Japan. Considering 5 elements reported by Handler et al (macro context, mission, structural capacity, processes, and outcomes), we conducted the focus group discussions to confirm the goals of activities of Cancer Information and Support Centers. Eventually, 2 final goals ("reduction in the number of patients/families having difficulties related to cancer" and "being able to live at ease even after diagnosis of cancer") were identified, accompanied by 5 semifinal goals and 16 prerequisite conditions needed to achieve the final goals, as well as the necessary states and the activity indicators corresponding to them. This tool was utilized by 180 (42.7%) of 422 cancer care hospitals designated by the government of Japan (designated cancer care hospitals [DCCHs]) in 2016 and by 336 (77.1%) of 436 DCCHs in 2018, which were the data at 6 months and 3 years after introduction of the tool, respectively. Thus, the tool for evaluating the Cancer Information and Support Centers' activity presented here is expected to stimulate the stakeholders involved in providing supports in various fields of each local community, to share the final goals, to evaluate the status of their achievement, and to further advance their own activities.