RESEARCH ABOUT DISEMINATION AND IMPLEMENTATION OF WHO GUIDELINES FOR CERVICAL CANCER SCREENING, DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT: THE GUIDES PROJECT.

ARROSSI SILVINA; CECILIA STRAW; PAOLINO MELISA; SANCHEZ ANTELO VICTORIA; BAENA, ARMANDO; ESPINA, CAROLINA; ROL, MARY LUZ; RAMIREZ TATIANA; ALMONTE, MARIBEL

Congreso; 34th International Conference of the International Papillomavirus Society; 2021

Introduction In 2013, WHO Guidelines for screening and treatment of precancerous lesions (WHO guidelines) were released. Currently, as part of the Cervical Cancer Elimination Strategy, WHO is updating these recommendations. Adoption of WHO guidelines in each health system will depend on acceptability of the guidelines by health providers and decision-makers, as well as on recommendations and influences of local scientific societies. MethodsThe GUIDES Project is a four-phase study aimed at analyzing knowledge, attitudes and perceptions regarding WHO guidelines, as well as barriers and facilitators for its adoption by key stakeholders (Figure 1). It includes: 1) formative research on three key stakeholders: decision-makers, scientific societies and health providers, 2) an online survey of health providers to quantitatively measure knowledge and use of WHO guidelines, and 3) implementation and evaluation of a strategy to increasing adoption of the guidelines. Both, the formative research and quantitative survey will be structured following the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR), domains to be included are: Intervention Characteristics, Outer Setting, Inner Setting, and Characteristics of individuals. Results Phase 1 is ongoing: We have designed the protocol, the interview guides and manual for the formative research with decision-makers, health professionals and representatives from scientific societies. Semi-structured interviews with a sample of stakeholders from Argentina (at least 15 health professionals, 15 decision-makers and 15 representatives from scientific societies) are planned for July-December2021. Results from these interviews will allow testing and refining of the interview guides for application in other countries. ConclusionsThe Guides Project will provide evidence regarding main obstacles and facilitators for adoption of WHO guidelines, and about strategies to increase their use by policy makers, program managers and health professionals. Its results will allow the design and evaluation of interventions to accelerate implementation and adoption of WHO guidelines for cervical cancer prevention.