Registry

Module Specifications

Archived Version 2010 - 2011

Module Title	Interventions in Psycho-oncology
Module Code	NS539
School	School of Nursing and Human Sciences
Online Module Resources
Level	1	Credit Rating	10
Pre-requisite	None
Co-requisite	None

Module Aims

For students to comprehend the rational for, aims of and demonstrate in-depth knowledge and skills in the application of (a) specific psychosocial interventions available as psychodynamic/ psychoeducative/ supportive care for the person with cancer at any stage of the cancer trajectory (b) psychoeducative/ supportive care of the person’s spouse, partner and/or family members; (c) psychiatric/ psychopharmacological interventions appropriate to cancer care.

Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of this module and following a period of personal study, the student will be able to:

demonstrate detailed understanding of, rational for and differentiate aims and methods of psychodynamic and cognitive behavioural therapies and counselling for individuals and groups, in the clinical and community setting, affected by the experience of cancer and relate these aims and methods to patient/service user assessment and goals in patient/service user health outcomes as well as levels of interventions appropriate and desirable in a range of situations, together with an understanding of relevant professional boundaries and their management
demonstrate detailed understanding and skills related to assessment relevant to pain management and referral for symptom alleviation and control and psychiatric and psychopharmcological interventions aimed at alleviating depression, anxiety and delirium for patients with cancer
critically analyse and demonstrate detailed understanding of a range of specific individual and group psycho-educative, health promotion relevant to health behaviours, promoting and sustaining behaviour change appropriate to cancer prevention CT and ‘mind-body’ interventions as part of community psycho-oncology service delivery aimed at (a) improving patient coping, health outcomes, relationships and family dynamics (b) patient education and the promotion of self regulation and behaviour /lifestyle change (c) psychosocial support interventions for family/ close others
critically analyse and demonstrate awareness of, rational for, and potential benefits and limitations of delivering supportive and psycho-educative services utilizing appropriate models of care delivery in the community and videotechnology for populations living in remote regions who cannot access psycho-oncology services

Indicative Time Allowances
	Hours
Lectures	24
Tutorials	14
Laboratories	40
Seminars
Independent Learning Time	72

Total	150
Placements
Assignments

NOTE

Assume that a 10 credit module load represents approximately 150 hours' work, which includes all teaching, in-course assignments, laboratory work or other specialised training and an estimated private learning time associated with the module.

Indicative Syllabus

Communication, assessment and referral knowledge, skills and protocol in the clinical and community setting relevant for psychodynamic and (adjuvant) cognitive behaviour therapy, and other psychosocial support and counselling interventions for the person with cancer/family dynamics/supportive interventions for close others/family/carers
Communication, assessment and referral knowledge, skills and protocol in the clinical and community setting relevant for pain and symptom management/psychiatric/psychopharmacological interventions for patients with cancer/close others/family/carers
Models and dynamics of stress/distress/PTSD (especially the stress and relaxation responses) and coping and the use of mind body complementary therapies to enhance coping and maximize quality of life for patients with cancer and their family/close others/carers - for example and not exclusively: breathing, meditation, mindfulness, autogenic training; relevant safety issues, policies and standards; conseqences of misdiagnosis; the work of the psycho-oncologist and ways in which the psycho-oncologist and his/her work are perceived
Patient education interventions related to cancer prevention, health promotion and behaviour change self care, self efficacy, skills development, problem solving, information access and acquisition, treatment adherence and self regulation
Patient and partner issues related to sexuality, body image, intimacy, relationships, enhancing family dynamics
Modes of evaluation of effectiveness and quality of interventions; safety issues, policies and standards
Social cognition, psychological and health promotion theories relevant to patient self regulation and care, behaviour change and cancer prevention
Models of health delivery in the community; service limitations and problems with implications for staff burnoput
Computer and videotechnology skills relevant to setting up distance support service provision

Assessment
Continuous Assessment	100%	Examination Weight	0%

Indicative Reading List

Essential Reading

Baum, A (2001) Psychosocial Interventions for Cancer Washington: APA
Brennan, J (2004) Cancer in Context: a Practical Guide for Supportive Care. New York: Oxford University Press
Burton, M. & Watson, M (1998). Counselling People with Cancer. Chichester: Wiley
Cassileth, BR et al (2005) PDQ Integrative Oncology Complementary Therapies in Cancer Care. Hamilton: London
Connor, M, Norman, P (2005) Predicting Health Behaviour. Philadelphia: OUP
Kissane, DW, Bloch, S (2002) Family Focused Grief Therapy Buckingham; Philadelphia, Pa. Open University Press.
Moore,R, Spiegel, D (2004) Cancer, Culture and Communication. New York: Kluwer Academic/Plenum Publishers.
Moorey, S. & Greer, S (2002) Cognitive Behaviour Therapy for People with Cancer. 2nd ed New York: Oxford University Press
Nutbeam, D & Bauman, A (2006) Evaluation in a Nutshell. A Practical guide to the evaluation of health promotion programmes Aus: McGraw Hill
Rankin-Box, D (Ed.) (2001). The Nurses’ Handbook of Complementary Therapies. 2nd ed Edinburgh: Baillière Tindall.
Spiegel D (Ed) (2000) Group Therapy for Cancer Patients: A Research-based Handbook of Psychosocial Care. New York: Basic Books
Thiboldeaux, K, Golant, M (2007) The Total Cancer Wellness Guide. Dallas: Benbella.
Worden, J (2003) Grief Counselling and Grief Therapy. Handbook for the Mental Health Professional Hove, East Sussex : Brunner-Routledge.

Key Reference Texts:

Holland, J.C. (1998) Psycho-Oncology. New York: Oxford University Press
Holland, J et al (2006) Quick Reference for Oncology clinicians :The Psychiatric and Psychological Dimensions of Cancer Symptom Management IPOS Press
Key reference articles: Psycho-oncology; Int J Psychiatry in Med
Hutchinson, SD, Steginga, SK, Dunn J (2006) ‘The Tiered Model of Psychosocial Inteervention in Cancer : A community based Approach’ Psycho-oncology 15 (6) 541-6

Web sites:

NCCN Practice Guidelines in Oncology: IPOS, APOS, IASP, NCI, NCR

Strategy documents:

A Strategy for Cancer Control in Ireland, National Cancer Forum, 2006
Psychosocial and Cancer Support Services, 1999
Development of Services For Symptomatic Breast Disease. Report of the Sub-Group to The National Cancer Forum (2000)
The Women’s Council (2000) Survey of views and perceptions of women who attended symptomatic breast clinics

Relevant articles from journals ( not exclusively )

Psycho-oncology
Oncology Nursing Forum
PAIN
Journal of Pain and Symptom Management