Capital Health To Test Cancer Education Program

Cancer patients, their families and health-care workers in Halifax Regional Municipality have a new tool designed to help them through the various stages of the disease.

Cancer Care Nova Scotia today, Oct. 7, announced the introduction of the Oncology Interactive Education Series (OIES), an interactive, computer-based cancer-education program for patients, their families and health professionals.

The program was developed in Canada by Jack Digital Productions in collaboration with Toronto's Princess Margaret Hospital. Nova Scotia is the first province to test it. It is being piloted in five health districts including Capital Health.

"Hearing the words, 'you have cancer,' is traumatic," said Dr. Andrew Padmos, commissioner, Cancer Care Nova Scotia. "There are so many questions, so many fears, many of which can be alleviated if patients have access to quality cancer information. Information puts people back in the driver's seat. It helps them understand their treatment options and make informed decisions.

"For health professionals, access to quality patient education helps them support their patients. And, research also indicates that it leads to a better understanding of the illness, better compliance with treatment and thus better outcomes. OIES will respond to the needs that patients, families and health professionals have identified and ultimately lead to better cancer care."

Each of the 24 cancer-type specific titles in the series contains between 18 and 25 hours of information. Each topic follows the patient experience, providing information about disease prevention, early detection, symptoms, diagnosis, staging, treatment options, nutrition, pain management, psychosocial care and community support services. It also provides answers to a number of commonly asked questions. The learning is supported by three dimensional anatomy, patient experiences and clear graphics.

Donna Grant, nurse educator with the Capital Health Cancer Care Program said that feedback from staff, who have been trained on the program, has been very positive. "We feel it is a valuable learning tool for ourselves and for our patients."

OIES is designed to meet the need of a broad range of learning styles, computer experience, literacy levels and language skills. Trained volunteers will help patients, families and health professionals to use OIES. Patients who have access to a computer may also borrow titles from the program's lending libraries.

OIES will be evaluated to measure the use of the tool by patients, families and health professionals, as well as their satisfaction with it. The evaluation will also seek health professionals' opinions on how best to use the teaching tool as part of the care process. The decision to implement OIES across the province will be based on evaluation results, which are expected to be available in June 2005.

Cancer Care Nova Scotia is a program of the Department of Health, created to reduce the burden of cancer on individuals, families and the health-care system through prevention, screening, education and research.