11. PSSCAN: Development and Evaluation of a Psychosocial Screening Tool for BCCA.
Investigators: Dr. Maria Cristina Barroetavena (PI), Dr. Wolfgang Linden & Gina MacKenzie.
Funding provided by: BC Cancer Agency
Funded period: 2003 and ongoing

Patients with cancer are known to suffer considerable emotional distress that reduces their quality of life and may affect treatment adherence and outcomes. Much of this suffering is silent unless patients are systematically assessed for distress. Screening instruments for numerous distress features are available but are usually too limited in scope, often expensive to use in clinical practice given copyright protection, or are too long. The goal of the PSSCAN research is to create a brief psychometrically sound tool that is quick and easy to complete for all patients entering the cancer care system. To date researchers have completed Phase 1 of research, which included the creation and pilot of a psychosocial screening tool in 4 British Columbian cancer centres. The PSSCAN research project is now in its second phase and is undergoing reliability and validity testing. Of particular interest is the quality of social support and identification of gaps, assessment of quality of life, anxiety, depression, and suicidal intent.

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12. Patient Navigation in Cancer Care: A promising approach for improving access, integration and continuity of care.
Investigators: Richard Doll (PI), Dr. Joanne Stephen & Dr. Maria Cristina Barroetavena.
Funding provided by: Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation, Canadian Breast Cancer Initiative, Canadian Association of Provincial Cancer Agencies/Candian Strategy for Cancer Control
Funded period: January 2003 - December 2004  

The research project Patient Navigation in Cancer Care was aimed at 1) developing and evaluating an evidence-based model of navigation; and 2) ascertaining the feasibility of data collection methods and tools. It involved researchers and health providers from the BC Cancer Agency, the University of British Columbia, the Vancouver Island Health Authority South, and the West Kootenay Boundary region.

Final Report (1MB) 

Summary Report (323KB) 

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13. Improving Access to Psychosocial/Supportive Care: An investigation of the potential of technology.
Investigators: Richard Doll (PI) &  Dr. Joanne Stephen
Funding provided by: Canadian Strategy for Cancer Control     
Funded period: January 2004 - May 2004

Psychosocial care is recognised to have benefits for patients, families, and the health care system and yet the availability and accessibility of support services is currently limited. Today, the cancer care system faces geographic barriers, financial resource constraints and a fragmentation between provincial cancer centres and health authorities, which challenges our ability to provide universal and equitable access to psychosocial care to Canada's diverse population. Health technology is one avenue that provides potential in addressing access issues. This project aims to identify the range of technological applications for psychosocial/supportive care for cancer patients and caregivers through a review of the literature and key informant interviews. Based on the investigation, recommendations will be made about the most appropriate and feasible approaches in health technology for implementation or further investigation.

Final Report (247 KB) 
 
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The evidence-based Clinical Practice Guidelines (CPGs) movement within oncology, as in other health fields, represents a trend in identifying best practices and standardising treatments. Within psychosocial oncology, evidence-based CPG's can also be viewed as a tool to increase awareness of the important and too-often unmet psychosocial needs of cancer patients, as well as address the challenges and barriers currently experienced by practitioners in delivering psychosocial care consistently throughout the province and nation. In 2003, a province-wide working group led by BCCA began the work of developing guidelines for psychosocial care. To date, they have completed the first phase of research, which focused on the the identification and recommendation of a Psychosocial Oncology model of Clinical Practice Guideline Development. They are now focused on developing a national collaborative effort.

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15. The Clinical Utility of Therapeutic Touch for Cancer Patients Undergoing Invasive Medical Procedures: An exploration of the benefits.
Investigator: Dr. Joanne Stephen
Funding provided by:Sociobehavioural Cancer Research Network - National Cancer Institute of Canada
Funded period: 2003   

16. Patient Perceptions of the Benefits of Participating in a Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction Program at a Cancer Clinic.
Investigators: Dr. Maria Cristina Barroetavena (PI), Liz Dohan, Sydney Foran, Dr. John Oliffe & Richard Doll.
Funding provided by: BC Cancer Agency
Funded period: 2003

While several studies have documented the benefits of participating in a mindfulness meditation based stress reduction (MBSR) program on physical and psychological symptoms in patients with various diseases, there is a paucity of research on the effects of this type of programs among cancer patients. The purpose of this study is to describe cancer patients' experiences as a result of attending a MBSR program at a cancer centre clinic. The primary data collection method used is focus group interviews, to learn firstly from the perspective of cancer patients who have attended meditation classes and secondly from the perspective of their family caregivers.

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17. Early Rehabilitation of Persons with Low Grade Malignant Brain Tumours: Impact on patients' physical and psychosocial functions and caregiver quality of life.
Investigators: Dr. John W. MacDonald, Dr. Maria Cristina Barroetavena, Maureen Parkinson, Jane Millard, Dr. Roy Ma, Dr. Brian Thiessen & Richard Doll.
Funding provided by: BC Cancer Agency
Funded period: 2003 - Ongoing   

This study examines whether comprehensive interdisciplinary rehabilitation services provided to adults with traumatic brain injuries have benefits to those with low-grade brain tumours and their families. Although increasingly brain tumour clients are being referred from the BC Cancer Agency to G.F.Strong, there has not been any systematic investigation examining whether these interdisciplinary services benefit clients and their families.  Accordingly, this study examines three questions: 1. Do interdisciplinary rehabilitation services have an effect on maintaining or enhancing a person's level of community independence? 2. If there is a positive impact, does such a benefit persist at 6 & 12 months after completion of the program? 3. How does participation in a rehabilitation program have an impact upon family/ care provider stress levels and burden of care?

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18. Current Status of Pyschosocial Oncology Care in Canada: A feasability study  
Investigators: Dr. Anne Leis (PI), Richard Doll, Jill Taylor-Brown, & Elizabeth Maunsell
Funding provided by: National Cancer Institute of Canada    
Funded period: 2003 - 2005

The aim of this first phase of this two part study is to undertake a comprehensive inventory of the nature, availability and use of psychosocial care as part of cancer treatment centres in Canada. In order to do so, a statistical measurements will be devloped and pilot tested to systematically document the current state of psychosocial oncology care across the country. In phase 2 of the stuy, the fully developed and tested statistical measurements will be used to obtain baseline data on the availability and utilization of psychosocial care among cancer patients in Canada, from the perspective of cancer treatment centres.  

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