Reducing the Chasm in Behavioral Health Care for Older Adults With Cancer: Application of a Logic Model and Needs Assessment to Develop the Center for Implementation Research in Cancer in Later Life (CIRCL)

Older adults with cancer (OACs) are a large and growing population with high rates of unmet behavioral health needs. Dissemination and implementation (D&I) science provides methods for integrating effective interventions into routine care, but few researchers have formal D&I training. The Center for Implementation Research in Cancer in Later Life (CIRCL) was developed to address this need. This project describes two CIRCL development activities: (1) Administration of a D&I research needs assessment and (2) Creation of a logic model. Approximately two-thirds of the national needs assessment sample (N = 103) reported current engagement in D&I science (n = 67, 65.7%). Yet, the sample reported only a moderate level of D&I science knowledge. The logic model provided an organizing framework for CIRCL which led to the identification of metrics to evaluate the impact of CIRCL over time. These complementary activities inform efficient allocation of CIRCL resources to activities preferred by the target audience.