Innovative Models of International Psychosocial Oncology Training
Thursday, 20 September 2007 - 1:30 - 5:00 pm
presented by Mitch Golant PhD, Andy Roth MD, Sherry Schachter PhD, FT and Justyna Pronobis MA

Target Audience: Psychologists, Social Workers and Oncology Nurse Specialists

Workshop Objectives:

1. Train professional psychologists and future psychosocial oncologist in an integrative model that links hospital-based care with community-based support across the cancer continuum.

2. Provide a model of training for developing countries to integrate psychosocial oncology into cancer care using the example in Poland.

Workshop Description:

According to Dr. Lee Jong-Wook, WHO Director-General, "There is a gap between today's scientific advances and their application -- between what we know and what is actually being done…“ More than 11 million people are diagnosed with cancer every year. It is estimated that there will be 16 million new cases every year by 2020. Cancer causes 7 million deaths every year—or 12.5% of deaths worldwide. There is a need for a seamless delivery system of care for all patients. The most recent Institute of Medicine (IOM) report mandates that patients completing primary treatment should be provided with a comprehensive care summary and follow-up plan that is clearly and effectively explained. The role of the psychosocial oncologist will only increase with this worldwide rise in the number of cancer survivors.

We report on an innovative psychosocial oncology training model with psychologists from Poland which integrated didactic presentations, information exchange, experiential learning, with evidence-based practice in three health care settings: tertiary care, palliative care, and community-based support. This Symposium will cover six topics: (1) A Model of Integrative Lifecycle Care, (2) Critical Pathways of Care (psychosocial oncology basics, meaning based interventions, psychoeducational models), (3) Trainer Essential Skills, (4) Challenges and Pitfalls (5) Benefit and Joys, (6) Generalizabilty of the training model—method of evaluation.