From evidence to implementation of lifestyle behaviour in cancer prevention and control: A Preventive Medicine Golden Jubilee Commentary

Preventive interventions targeting tobacco, alcohol, healthy diets and physical activity are key strategies to tackle the most pressing health challenges in modern society. A major gap remains in how to translate research evidence into population-level behaviour change to reduce the disease burden. We use the case for the role of physical activity-related behaviour and cancer to illustrate the iterative, multidirectional, and transdisciplinary nature of translational research. The issues we address in this context are generalizable and applicable to other behavioral risk factors and non-communicable diseases. There is now solid evidence that physical activity reduces cancer risk and improves outcomes after cancer diagnosis. Here we provide a framework for how to implement this knowledge into real-world settings. We provide the rationale for combining systems, causal and design thinking to develop interventions that can be implemented for this type of behaviour change. The proposed model is iterative, multidirectional and transdisciplinary. We identify major knowledge gaps in epidemiology and science of behaviour change on physical activity and cancer control and propose approaches to suggest priorities for future research.