OBJECTIVES
High cancer mortality in small island developing states (SIDS) is compounded by the insufficient evidence from local epidemiological studies. Stakeholder engagement is particularly important in SIDS to ultimately drive these studies and cancer control. We aimed to map cancer control stakeholders as part of the development of the CaSIDEC study.
METHODS
The CaSIDEC study investigates the role of overseas travel on cancer survivorship in the six countries of the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS). Stakeholders were identified during the planning phases through professional networks, snowballing, and public directories. Persons interested in research/cancer care or those capable of influencing it were included in the mapping. We assessed power and interest by attributing scores based on publicly available content and previous interactions. Stakeholders were then mapped into a power–interest matrix and classified as promoters, latent, advocates, or bystanders. Descriptive statistics were computed, and country-specific variations were examined.
RESULTS
Of 159 identified stakeholders, 96 were analyzed. The stakeholder subgroups included contributors (36%), policymakers (32%), implementers (18%), and civil society leaders (14%). The overall mean scores for interest and power were low (4.5/10, SD = 2.6 and 4.7/10, SD = 2.5, respectively). Saint Lucia had the largest representation across stakeholder subgroups with a relatively balanced distribution. However, Antigua, Saint Vincent, and Saint Kitts had more policymakers and no representation from implementers. 29% of stakeholders were classified as Latent, 28% as Bystanders, 23% as Advocates, and 20% as Promoters.
CONCLUSION
We carried out the first analysis in the Caribbean, mapping stakeholders for an epidemiological study. Like other developing countries, interest in developing a large-scale epidemiological study was low among stakeholders. Cancer support groups and implementers were strong advocates for this research. Our findings will help guide efforts to increase the political will needed to generate new knowledge and policy.
