Guidelines, Education and Practice
April 2012 marks the beginning of the Partnership’s second five-year mandate and the next phase of implementing Canada’s national cancer strategy. The priorities and initiatives for the next five years are outlined in our 2012-2017 strategic plan, Sustaining Action Toward a Shared Vision. Our website will soon be updated to reflect the activities supporting the strategic plan. The information below reflects the priorities and accomplishments of our work between 2007 and 2012.
Increasing consistency of service for people who have been diagnosed with cancer
The Partnership’s Cancer Journey Guidelines Group has created practice standards for specific distress symptoms to increase consistency in the quality and level of service cancer patients receive across the country. Documents provide recommendations for health authorities, decision-makers and health practitioners, informing them of the best clinical care and survivor services to support the physical and mental health of survivors and their families.
Progress to date
The following guideline documents have been created and disseminated:
- A Pan-Canadian Practice Guideline: Screening, Assessment and Care of Psychosocial Distress (Depression, Anxiety) in Adults with Cancer
- Protocols developed in partnership with COSTaRs, a collaboration that focuses on addressing variability in how remote support is offered across Canada and ensuring that it is based on evidence. This project aims to develop evidence-based guidelines for the remote assessment, triage and management of patients experiencing symptoms related to cancer therapy.
- Pan-Canadian Guidance on Organization and Structure of Survivorship Services and Psychosocial-Supportive Care Best Practices for Adult Cancer Survivors.
- Pan-Canadian Practice Guideline: Screening, Assessment and Care of Cancer-Related Fatigue in Adults with Cancer
- Two online education modules were developed in partnership with Interprofessional Psychosocial Oncology Distance Education (IPODE):
- Sexual Health in Cancer was designed to assist health-care practitioners in cancer care to address sexual health-care issues.
- Screening for Distress Education provides an opportunity for health professionals to develop knowledge to screen for and respond to distress.
- Formal launch and promotion of CPOPonline, an online community of researchers, health-care practitioners and community-based organizations engaged in psychosocial services, education or research in cancer. Developed by the Canadian Association of Psychosocial Oncology with funding from the Partnership, CPOPonline aims to enable person-centred care by facilitating knowledge exchange through connection and the sharing of resources and news.
