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. Participants: Comprehensive Cancer Control program staff. Main Outcome Measures: In a process that involved stakeholders from funded programs, academia, and nonprofit organizations, the CDC developed a framework for evaluation and a performance measures worksheet containing 11 performance measures for CCC programs that assessed grantee attainment of key components of CCC as required in the funding announcement. The framework was based on a CCC logic model. The performance measures worksheet contained detailed description of the measures, definitions, and suggested data sources for the 11 measures. Results: Of the 69 programs, 61 completed the worksheets. The median time reported to complete the worksheet was 10 hours (interquartile range = 6-20). Almost all programs reported having representation of relevant populations in their coalition and having conducted a recent assessment of the burden of cancer. Less frequently, programs reported having a written evaluation plan or having enacted policy changes. Additional performance measures described non-CDC funding, the percentage of partners implementing CCC activities, and the percentage of implemented interventions that were evidence-based. Conclusions: This pilot test of the performance measures worksheet established the feasibility of conducting a standardized survey of CCC programs to identify issues of importance to developing and implementing the CCC program at national and program levels. The