A multidimensional assessment of payback: Evaluating the impact of Breast Cancer Trials

Ruth Knight; Belinda Luke; Renata Meuter; Kaitlin Peters; Kathleen Chell

doi:10.1111/ajco.14043

A multidimensional assessment of payback: Evaluating the impact of Breast Cancer Trials

Asia Pac J Clin Oncol. 2024 Jan 4. doi: 10.1111/ajco.14043. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Ruth Knight¹, Belinda Luke², Renata Meuter³, Kaitlin Peters¹, Kathleen Chell¹

Affiliations

¹ Faculty of Business and Law, The Australian Centre for Philanthropy and Nonprofit Studies, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia.
² Faculty of Business and Law, School of Accountancy, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia.
³ Faculty of Health, School of Psychology and Counselling, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia.

PMID: 38174644
DOI: 10.1111/ajco.14043

Abstract

Aim: This study evaluates the impact created by clinical trial investment and research undertaken by Breast Cancer Trials (BCT).

Methods: The approach involved using the Payback Framework, and included a review of BCT archival information, public health data, a questionnaire sent to BCT members, individual interviews with key informants, a focus group with members of the organization's Consumer Advisory Panel, and case studies of select BCT trials. The evaluation assessed the evidence against the Payback Framework criteria: informing policy and product development, knowledge production, the research system, health and health sector benefits, and broader economic benefits.

Results: Analysis using the Payback Framework revealed impact was created in each category and a range of positive outcomes were identified for various stakeholder groups. BCT is maximizing the impact of its research and contributing to a global pool of scientific knowledge by collaborating with over 100 institutions and 820 researchers, yet its benefits go beyond research contributions. Findings highlight strong financial returns from BCT's research program and that BCT has played an important role in enhancing the public perception of clinical trials by promoting participation in trials, educating and empowering participants, and communicating trial outcomes.

Conclusion: BCT's clinical trials have had a significant impact on the prevention, detection, treatment, and management of breast cancer. Measuring and reporting impact can be resource intensive but support BCT in remaining accountable to all those invested in the organization and in breast cancer clinical trials, evidencing the multiple dimensions of payback resulting from the organization's research.

Keywords: BCT; Payback; accountability; evaluation; impact.

Grants and funding

Breast Cancer Trials