Educating Allied Health Professionals to Provide Care for Cancer Patients and Their Families

Abstract

From 1985 to 1988, a state-wide program of cancer education was offered to community-based allied health professionals (AHPs) at five different program sites in Pennsylvania. During this three-year period, 512 social workers, clergy, dieticians, physical therapists and others received training to increase their knowledge about cancer and counseling, improve their supportive attitude regarding cancer patients and families, and decrease stress related to their work with this population. Overall, the Program was successful in reaching AHPs working with cancer clients who had little formal training in the cancer field. At the beginning of training, it was observed that AHPs with initially higher levels of education and more years of work experience with cancer patients had higher levels of counseling knowledge. Those who were women, worked in hospitals, or had worked with cancer patients longer exhibited higher levels of cancer knowledge. Participants who were women and who had more education had reported lower levels of job stress. Among those AHPs who completed the training courses, cancer knowledge increased by 14 percent. In addition, knowledge related to counseling cancer patients and their families improved by 11 percentage points. Perceived job stress among the AHPs also declined by 10 percent. Finally, participant supportive attitude concerning cancer clients improved.

Prise en charge psychologique des patients cancéreux

“…Dans un second temps, nous en viendrons à nous interroger sur la gé né ralisation de l'utilisation du terme « travail de deuil » tel qu'il est à pré sent couramment employé [20,26].…”

Social Workers' Attitudes Toward Parents of Children in Child Protective Services: Evaluation of a Family-Focused Casework Training Program

“…Several program evaluations focusing on worker attitudes appear throughout the social service literature (e.g., Amodeo, 2000;Myers et al, 1991). Specific to the child protection literature, Rooney, Moore, and Rosenzweig (1984) found that 78% percent of training participants reported that training had an effect on their thinking about foster care; nearly half reported that training impacted their work in the foster care system.…”

Information and support programs for cancer patients’ family and friends: a world survey

“…Cette notion de « réseau théra-peutique » incluant les patients et leur entourage dans un même groupe souligne en outre la néces-sité d'élaborer une formation spéci-fique des soignants [21]. Dans cette perspective, le « soin » des patients est considéré dans deux dimensions : une dimension plus particulièrement technique mais aussi relationnelle liée à l'activité des professionnels et une dimension qui relève des proches pour faciliter une qualité de vie optimale, en prenant en prenant en considération à la fois « le cure » et « le care ».…”

“…Par ailleurs, il existe quelques programmes américains destinés aux professionnels de santé pour les aider dans la prise en charge des patients et de leurs proches [21]. Ils ont pour objectifs de les sensibiliser à une prise en charge personnalisée, d'améliorer leurs relations avec les patients et leurs proches, et de diminuer aussi leur propre stress.…”