Pictou County Health To Test Cancer Education Program
CANCER CARE N.S.--Pictou County Health To Test Cancer Education Program
Cancer patients, their families and health-care workers in Pictou County 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. Pictou County Health Authority is one of five health districts involved in testing the program.
"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.
Joanne Cumminger, patient navigator, Pictou County Health Authority, said that OIES is helping her provide timely and accurate information to her patients. "This program is enabling me to contribute to better patient outcomes, increase compliance and satisfaction with care, lower anxiety and improve the ways that patients cope with their disease."
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.