Improving Education and Awareness
Improving Education and Awareness of Consequences of Treatment
GPs and other healthcare professionals do not always recognise that a person’s symptoms might be caused by their cancer treatment. Cancer survivors themselves may not be aware that their problems are related to their cancer treatment. This means that there may not be a proper diagnosis, and hence patients are not always provided with the treatment, support and information they need to manage their problems.
We are working to improve this situation through the following projects:
- Enhance skills for workforce
This project will look at the existing levels and type of healthcare professionals providing services for cancer survivors in England and Wales. The project will then produce guidelines for existing training and continued professional development.
- Information Prescriptions for Patients
This project is collecting feedback from professionals on the use of the Pelvic Radiotherapy booklets for men and women. The survey aims to establish when this information is most useful, who it should be provided by and how effective it is at empowering cancer survivors to be involved in managing their own care following treatment.
- Web Based Care Plans
In cancer care, e-technology is increasingly being used to obtain accurate and reliable self-reported symptom information from patients. This study explores whether online care planning software, such as Oncolink (available in the USA), could be used in the UK and how this could be adapted to fit the NHS healthcare model.
- Lifestyle Factors for Prostate Cancer Radiotherapy Patients
This project will look at what the possible consequences of treatment are for men having radiotherapy treatment for prostate cancer. This project will also look at whether lifestyle factors e.g. smoking, high BMI etc. effect the likelihood of rectal and urinary damage.
- Education Events for Survivors
These events include:
An Educational Programme for cancer survivors in Tower Hamlets, London. This programme will cover emotional health and well-being, exercise, nutrition, medical management and life after cancer and its treatment.
A Supportive Event to address loss of confidence, promote a positive self image and address functional and psychological adjustments that need to be made in order to return to work.
- Developing an E-Learning Module for GPs
This project will develop an e-learning module for GPs and other healthcare professionals to increase their skills and knowledge around consequences of cancer. The module will help healthcare professionals identify patients who are at risk of consequences of cancer and raise awareness of how consequences of treatment are managed through referrals and lifestyle adjustments.
- Returning to Work
This study aims to identify the physical, functional and psychosocial barriers adult cancer survivors face when they return to work. This project will also look at the healthcare cost in adult cancer survivors who are or should be economically active.
CCaT is a group of 12 leaders from medical backgrounds (nursing and allied health) working together to improve the experiences and outcomes for people living with consequences of cancer treatment. They will be conducting research, developing systems of care, delivering education and influencing policy.
Last updated on December 17, 2012