Champions: Turning Evidence into Action to Save Lives

by Jon Scaccia December 16, 2024

Cancer care faces a persistent challenge: how do we ensure the most effective treatments and interventions reach every patient, every time? One powerful answer lies in the hands of an often-overlooked group: Champions. These individuals—whether clinical staff, community leaders, or peers—play a pivotal role in turning innovative cancer care strategies into realities. A recent scoping review sheds light on who these champions are, the work they do, and how we can better support them to improve outcomes across cancer care.

Let’s dive into the findings and explore how champions can help bridge the gap between research and practice—and what you can do to help.

Who Are Champions, and Why Do They Matter?

At their core, champions are agents of change. They advocate for, implement, and sustain health interventions, often acting as the glue that holds complex implementation efforts together. Whether a nurse encouraging HPV vaccinations in a clinic or a community leader organizing cancer screening events, champions use their credibility and influence to break down barriers.

The review, encompassing 74 studies published between 1971 and 2022, found that champions are involved in nearly every aspect of the cancer care continuum—prevention, screening, treatment, and survivorship. Importantly, they are most effective when embedded in the systems they aim to influence, such as hospitals or community organizations.

Yet, despite their critical role, the term “champion” is inconsistently applied, and their contributions often go underreported. This lack of clarity makes it challenging to replicate their success or maximize their impact.

What Do Champions Do?

Champions wear many hats. The review identified three primary activities they engage in:

1. Facilitation: Champions smooth the path for new interventions by fostering collaboration and addressing resistance. For instance, they might coordinate between departments to implement a new patient care protocol or host meetings to align stakeholders.
2. Outreach and Promotion: They amplify the reach of interventions through public education, social media campaigns, or one-on-one conversations. Champions often serve as trusted messengers, building buy-in and awareness.
3. Recruitment: Champions encourage participation in clinical trials, screenings, or health programs, ensuring interventions have the reach they need to make a difference.

However, champions do not work in isolation. Their efforts often complement broader strategies, such as policy changes, training initiatives, or community advisory boards.

Barriers to Success: What’s Holding Champions Back?

Despite their potential, champions face significant challenges:

• Time Constraints: Many champions take on these roles in addition to their regular duties, leading to burnout.
• Lack of Training: Nearly half of the studies reviewed did not provide evidence of training for champions, leaving them ill-equipped for the task at hand.
• Low Organizational Support: Champions often struggle to gain buy-in from leadership or peers, limiting their effectiveness.
• High Turnover: When champions leave, their absence can stall or derail initiatives.

Addressing these barriers is essential if we want champions to thrive.

How Can We Better Support Champions?

To unlock the full potential of champions, organizations need to take a more intentional approach:

1. Invest in Training: Equip champions with the skills they need to navigate challenges, from conflict resolution to effective communication.
2. Provide Organizational Support: Leaders must actively endorse and back champions, ensuring their efforts align with organizational priorities.
3. Recognize and Reward Contributions: Champions deserve recognition for their work, whether through financial incentives, public acknowledgment, or career advancement opportunities.
4. Plan for Sustainability: Build systems that ensure champions’ efforts continue, even if they leave. This might include developing networks of champions or embedding their work into organizational practices.

Why This Matters Now

Cancer remains a leading cause of death worldwide, and delays in implementing proven interventions can cost lives. Champions have the potential to accelerate change, turning evidence into action more quickly and effectively than traditional approaches.

Imagine a world where every patient has access to the best care possible because champions are there to lead the way. This vision is within reach—but only if we commit to identifying, supporting, and empowering these critical players.

Join the Conversation

• Have you worked with or as a champion in implementing health initiatives? What challenges or successes did you experience?
• How do you think organizations can better support champions to sustain their impact over time?

Share your thoughts in the comments or join the discussion on social media using #CancerCareChampions.

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