Background:
Developing psychotherapy interventions tailored to the cancer experience is essential to advancing evidence-based practices in psycho-oncology. While designing and testing psychotherapies is challenging in any environment, dissemination across international contexts introduces a unique set of barriers. This presentation examines lessons learned from implementing psycho-oncology psychotherapy studies internationally and provides practical guidance for future dissemination.
Methods:
A multi-method approach was used, including the practical experiences of disseminating two international psychotherapy trials, a survey of principal investigators conducting psychotherapy across borders, and a review of the literature. This process identified common barriers, facilitators, and actionable strategies for effective implementation.
Results:
Key facilitators included the presence of local “champions” or change agents committed to the intervention, and sustained enthusiasm and patience across sites. In-person site visits and ongoing relationship-building proved critical in establishing trust and maintaining engagement. Conversely, significant barriers included securing adequate funding, navigating regulatory and ethical approval processes, cultural translation of intervention manuals and study measures, and managing time zone differences that complicated communication. Variability in healthcare delivery systems, differing cultural perceptions of psychotherapy, and limited local infrastructure also posed challenges. Examples of successful strategies included building partnerships gradually through smaller pilot projects, embedding cultural adaptation resources into study budgets, providing complete and standardized materials (from grant templates to psychotherapy manuals), and scheduling regular cross-site meetings to address emerging issues.
Conclusion:
Despite substantial challenges, international dissemination of psycho-oncology psychotherapies is feasible and offers considerable opportunities to strengthen the evidence base for interventions across diverse cultural and healthcare contexts. Careful attention to local facilitators, proactive planning for common barriers, and investment in relationship-building are critical to advancing truly global psycho-oncology research.