Cancer Plan Index: a measure for assessing the quality of cancer plans.

Objective: To (1) conduct an in-depth assessment of the content of comprehensive cancer control plans and (2) obtain data that can be used to provide guidance to grantees supported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's National Comprehensive Cancer Control Program (NCCCP) as they refine their plans, and to other health professionals as similar planning is done.

Design: Through an iterative development process, a workgroup of subject matter experts from NCCCP and Research Triangle Institute International (RTI International) identified 11 core or essential components that should be considered in cancer plans on the basis of their professional experience and expertise. They also developed a tool, the Cancer Plan Index (CPI), to assess the extent to which cancer plans addressed the 11 core components.

Improving integration and coordination of funding, technical assistance, and reporting/data collection: recommendations from CDC and USAPI stakeholders.

Background: Current US Federal funding mechanisms may foster program silos that disable sharing of resources and information across programs within a larger system of public health services. Such silos present challenges to USAPI communities where human resources, health infrastructure, and health financing are limited. Integrative and coordinated approaches have been recommended.

Piloting performance measurement for Comprehensive Cancer Control programs.

Objective: To implement a pilot test of performance measures for National Comprehensive Cancer Control (CCC) programs funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Design: A cross-sectional assessment conducted in 2008.

Setting: A total of 65 CCC-funded entities (51 states, 7 tribes, and 7 territories or jurisdictions) representing 69 CCC programs.

Improving integration and coordination of funding, technical assistance, and reporting/data collection: recommendations from CDC and USAPI stakeholders.

Background: Current US Federal funding mechanisms may foster program silos that disable sharing of resources and information across programs within a larger system of public health services. Such silos present challenges to USAPI communities where human resources, health infrastructure, and health financing are limited. Integrative and coordinated approaches have been recommended.

Comprehensive cancer control: progress and accomplishments.

The potential for Comprehensive Cancer Control (CCC) across the nation has been realized in the last decade with 69 Coalitions developing and implementing CCC plans. Many partners at all levels--national, state, jurisdictional, tribal and communities--have contributed to this success. This article details the contribution of these partners across these various levels, with a selection of the many activities contributing to this success.

From planning to implementation to outcomes: comprehensive cancer control implementation building blocks.

Since 2002, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Guidance for Comprehensive Cancer Control Planning has been an important driver of success in the development of comprehensive cancer control (CCC) plans among states, tribes, tribal organizations, territories and Pacific Island Jurisdictions. CDC's Guidance for Comprehensive Cancer Control Planning laid out a number of key action steps, or planning building blocks, that are essential to successful cancer plan development. Now, all 50 states and many tribes, tribal organizations, territories and Pacific Island Jurisdictions are actively implementing their comprehensive cancer control plans.

The CCC National Partnership: an example of organizations collaborating on comprehensive cancer control.

The landscape of cancer control has changed throughout the past 12 years and continues to change even more so as health reform is implemented in the United States. With the advent of health reform, coalitions, such as comprehensive cancer control (CCC) coalitions, are more important than ever if the intended benefits of reform are to be realized. Comprehensive cancer control (CCC) coalitions in state, tribe, territory, and Pacific Island Jurisdictions are "engines of change" and form a network that can facilitate important cancer control progress throughout this country.

Developing partnerships to reduce disparities in cancer screening.

Background: Interventions in scientific settings to improve the well-being of women who are not regularly screened for cancer have failed. Consequently, community-based prevention and control efforts are needed.

Community Context: From 2003 through 2007, three federal agencies and 1 nongovernmental agency collaborated with county-level public health counterparts from 6 states to address screening disparities in cervical and breast cancer in counties with the highest prevalence.

The evaluation of comprehensive cancer control efforts: useful techniques and unique requirements.

This article discusses evaluation of comprehensive cancer control efforts as developed in the United States by involved partners at all levels -- community, regional, state, tribal, territorial, and national. Evaluation of comprehensive cancer control can concern the evaluation of a program, a plan or activities from a plan. In its development, it is grounded in both theory and practice, and the results are used in program development and implementation to document activities, inform decision making, and demonstrate accountability.

Interventions to prevent skin cancer by reducing exposure to ultraviolet radiation: a systematic review.

The relationship between skin cancer and ultraviolet radiation is well established. Behaviors such as seeking shade, avoiding sun exposure during peak hours of radiation, wearing protective clothing, or some combination of these behaviors can provide protection. Sunscreen use alone is not considered an adequate protection against ultraviolet radiation.