Preventing Chronic Disease | Building Cancer Control Capacity: a Mixed-Method Evaluation of the Research to Reality (R2R) Mentorship Program - CDC

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Preventing Chronic Disease | Building Cancer Control Capacity: a Mixed-Method Evaluation of the Research to Reality (R2R) Mentorship Program - CDC

Building Cancer Control Capacity: a Mixed-Method Evaluation of the Research to Reality (R2R) Mentorship Program

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• Abstract
• Introduction
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• Results
• Discussion
• Acknowledgments
• Author Information
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Michael Sanchez, MPH, CHES; E. Peyton Purcell, MPH, CPH; Joan S. Michie, PhD; Sophia P. Tsakraklides, PhD; Madeline La Porta, MS; Cynthia Vinson, PhD, MPA

Suggested citation for this article: Sanchez M, Purcell EP, Michie JS, Tsakraklides SP, La Porta M, Vinson C. Building Cancer Control Capacity: a Mixed-Method Evaluation of the Research to Reality (R2R) Mentorship Program. Prev Chronic Dis 2014;11:130275. DOI:http://dx.doi.org/10.5888/pcd11.130275.

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Abstract

In 2011, the National Cancer Institute launched the Research to Reality (R2R) Pilot Mentorship Program to enhance mentees’ core evidence-based public health (EBPH) competencies. In this article, we describe the program and its evaluation results and the program’s ability to improve participants’ EBPH competencies and appropriateness of program components. Program evaluation consisted of a pre/post program competency questionnaire and interviews with mentees, mentors, mentees’ supervisors, and program staff. Mentees reported the same or higher rating in every competency at end of the program, with average increase of 0.6 points on a 4-point scale; the greatest improvements were seen in policy development/program planning. Mentorship programs are a promising strategy to develop EBPH competencies, provide guidance, and disseminate and adapt evidence-based interventions within real-world context.

Author Information

Corresponding Author: Michael Sanchez, MPH, CHES, National Cancer Institute, 9609 Medical Center Dr, Rockville, MD 20850. Telephone: 240-276-6884. E-mail: sanchezgarciama@mail.nih.gov.

Author Affiliations: E. Peyton Purcell, Clinical Research Directorate/CMRP, SAIC-Frederick, Inc, Frederick National Laboratory for Cancer Research, Frederick, Maryland; Joan S. Michie, Sophia P. Tsakraklides, Westat, Rockville, Maryland; Madeline La Porta, MS1; Cynthia Vinson, National Cancer Institute, Rockville, Maryland.

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