Policy implementation for cancer control in Nigeria

Project Summary This application is being submitted in response to the Notice of Special Interest (NOSI) identified as NOT-CA- 24-039. Policy is a powerful tool for achieving cancer control goals globally, however virtually no studies have examined how policymakers in Africa, make policy decisions using research evidence. Furthermore, effective

dissemination of scientific research evidence can increase the likelihood that policymaker’s decisions are aligned with evidence to control cancer, however a research-to-policy gap persists, with limited knowledge on dissemination strategies that influence policymakers’ engagement with research evidence for cancer control.

This study aims to improve the use of research evidence among Nigerian policymakers and then develop data- driven dissemination strategies that promote research on vaccine preventable cancers using audience segmentation and designathons. Guided by the Exploration, Preparation, Implementation and Sustainment

framework, our specific aims are: 1) Use qualitative in-depth interviews and priority mapping exercises to explore policy actor characteristics and organizational climate factors related to research evidence use and preferences for vaccine preventable cancers (i.e. cervical and liver cancer) in Nigeria; 2) Empirically identify

and determine sub-groups of policy actors at various organizations focused on cancer control in Nigeria and their distinct preferences and evidence use behaviors using latent class analysis; and 3) Use designathons with sub-groups of policy actors to design and assess the acceptability, appropriateness, and feasibility of

dissemination strategies for research evidence use. Our overarching goal is not to create a monolithic “one- size fits all” research evidence or dissemination strategies for cancer control policies in Nigeria, but to demonstrate that our use of audience segmentation and designathons can be used to address policy and

dissemination science knowledge deficits for cancer control policies on vaccines for preventable cancers, in Africa’s most populous country.