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Enbridge
Endowed Research Chair
The Enbridge Research Chair in Psychosocial Oncology, co-funded
by the Alberta Cancer Foundation and the Canadian Cancer Society,
Alberta/NWT Division was announced in 2005. The recruitment of
the Chair concluded in March of 2007 and Dr. Linda Carlson was
nominated as the first Chair until 2012. In the Fall of 2008 Dr.
Janine Giese-Davis from Stanford University was recruited as an
Associate Professor for the Chair program and will be working
with the Survivorship CancerBRIDGES team on developing a comprehensive
cancer survivorship research program in Alberta.
Psychosocial Screening Program
Dr. Barry Bultz initiated movement toward the widescale recognition
of the importance of emotional distress in cancer patients by
initiating a series of presentations, publications, and editorials
which resulted in the endorsement of Emotional Distress as the
6th Vital Sign by the Council of Canadian Strategy for Cancer
Control (CSCC) on December 3rd, 2005. In 2007 the Distress Screening
Program (Personal Well-Being Checklist) received research funding
from the Alberta Cancer Board Research Initiative Program ($956,720.00),
and the program has been made available to all new patients in
March 2008. The program has also launched its own website www.personalwellbeing.ca
or 6thvitalsign.ca.
In
addition, Canadian Partnership Against Cancer (CPAC) has listed
Screening for Distress-the 6th Vital Sign as one of its priority
initiative to improving the "patient-centred approach"
to cancer care. Dr. Barry Bultz is the lead for this initiative.
Strategic
Plan
The mandate of the Department is to conduct counselling, research,
and education in the area of psychosocial oncology. In addition
to direct clinical intervention, the department sees its role
as developing state-of-the art knowledge concerning the science
of Psychosocial Oncology, and enabling the health care providers
and the public to become better informed about the impact of cancer
on the individual and family, thus promoting the opportunity for
optimal psychosocial care.
Education
The Division of Psychosocial Resources, Department of Oncology,
one of the first in North America, continues to offer one of the
only accredited courses in Psychosocial Oncology in Canada - MDSC
635. Students from various faculties at the U of C (Medicine,
Social Work, Psychology and Nursing) enrol in this course. The
Division's Internship Training Program (CPA accredited since 1991)
has attracted international students. In addition, educational
opportunities exist for Social Work Practica, Clinical Psychology
Internships, opportunities for Psychiatry Residents as well as
Pre- and Post-Doctoral Research Fellowships.
Research
Members of the Division are involved in ongoing research activities.
The main areas of research focus on mind-body interactions, survivorship
issues, Screening for Distress (6th Vital Sign) and clinical trials
of interventions. Our researchers have been awarded over $7 million
in external grant funding to continue to excel in research that
enhances patient experience in their cancer trajectory.
Screening
for Distress (6th Vital Sign)
This area of research acknowledges the high rates of distress
in cancer patients and families throughout the continuum from
diagnosis and treatment through to recurrent disease and palliative
care. The approach used applies a knowledge transfer framework,
with the goal of integrating research results regarding distress
levels and efficacy trials of psychosocial interventions into
a complete system of identification of distress, triage, and
referral to empirically supported treatments.
Mind-body
Interactions
This broad area covers a number of associations, interventions,
and outcomes relevant to an oncology context. The exciting multidisciplinary
field of psychoneuroimmunology and endocrinology provides methods
and tools to investigate the interactions between psychological
states and biological functions that may be important for cancer
incidence or progression. We have just added the capacity to
investigate, with state-of-the-art techniques, the impact of
emotional expression in relationships that are important throughout
the cancer trajectory. For instance, the impact of particular
kinds of emotional expression of therapy outcome, marital satisfaction,
and doctor-patient relationships.
Survivorship
Given that the majority of people now survive cancer treatment
(over 65% of all patients will now live beyond 5 years post-diagnosis),
there is a clear need to study and understand issues that arise
well after the acute life threat of cancer has passed. Within
survivorship, two distinct populations will be considered: survivors
of childhood or adolescent cancer, and survivors of adult cancers
in both rural and urban contexts.
Clinical
Trials
Providing evidence-based psychosocial treatment that is well-integrated
into the cancer patient's medical trajectory is a hallmark of
the Psychosocial Resources Group. Over the years, numerous clinical
trials have been conducted validating the psychological, quality
of life, and physiological benefits of mindfulness meditation,
yoga, supportive-expressive group therapy, partner support groups,
exercise interventions and online support groups. Providing
these validated interventions has the department's ongoing commitment.
Program
Evaluations
n addition, several studies have been conducted over the years
focusing on evaluation of feasibility and effectiveness of various
programs offered by the department (e.g. the Smoking Cessation
program, Tapestry Retreats, Kids/Teens Can Cope program).
Other
The Division of Psychosocial Resources offers a variety of
evidence-based group programs. Group programs provide an opportunity
to connect with both health care professionals as well as other
individuals who are going through similar experiences. These programs
strive to improve quality of life and provide patients and their
family members with skills and support to help them throughout
their cancer journey.
Please visit www.albertacancer.ca
to find out more about these programs.
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