ABSTRACT
On their first visit to the Regional Cancer Program, all patients are provided with the "Information for Patients and Families" binder that was designed by an interdisciplinary cancer patient education team. Patients were asked to complete a survey to evaluate the usefulness of this binder. Timely delivery of the "Information for Patients and Families" binder validates a higher level of satisfaction with oncology services because patients are better informed and this translates into a reduction of psychosocial problems. As a result of this study, a decision was made to provide the binder earlier in the patient's journey (e.g., post surgery for thoracic and brain tumor patients).
Subject(s)
Health Education/methods , Neoplasms , Patient Satisfaction , Consumer Health Information/methods , Humans , Patient Education as Topic/methodsABSTRACT
Adolescents who are treated for cancer must learn to negotiate challenging developmental tasks in the context of their treatment and adverse effects. Adverse affects of disease and treatment may prevent some of these adolescents from achieving full psychosocial development. Two programs developed independently to address the psychosocial and unique contextual needs of adolescents and young adults from different geographic regions in Ontario, Central urban and Northeastern rural, are described. The program in the urban area consists of eight 2-h sessions that combined structured creative activities and informal discussions of issues generated by adolescents; it includes a pre- post- intervention evaluation with standardized questionnaires. The Northeastern rural program consists of a monthly support open group that encourages sharing personal experiences and an annual expressive art retreat; both components include informal evaluation. Formal evaluation of these programs is in progress. Informal feedback from participants and parents suggest positive effects. These distinct and unique programs continue to evolve, as they address the unique psychosocial needs of adolescents and young adults in urban and rural areas.
Subject(s)
Focus Groups , Neoplasms/psychology , Social Support , Adolescent , Humans , Neoplasms/therapy , OntarioABSTRACT
In an effort to heighten the awareness of the high school population, a support group program for young people whose parents were diagnosed with cancer received funding to produce an educational video titled Hear How I Feel. This article reports on the evaluation of the video by 146 high school teachers, guidance counselors, and students; elementary school teachers; university undergraduate social work students; and health care and social service providers. A qualitative analysis of the evaluations indicated that high school teachers and guidance counselors were reluctant to use the video in the high school setting because they could not respond expertly to emotions that might be elicited. The findings suggest that youths desire a forum in which difficult issues can be addressed, teachers and guidance counselors need training that would enhance their skill in responding to students' emotional responses, and cancer patients and their families have psychosocial needs that must be met.
