Training for specialised cancer care
SAHANA CHARAN
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COPER aims to scientifically train doctors, nurses and social workers in handling the emotional responses of patients.
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Psycho-oncology is a multidisciplinary sub-speciality of oncology (cancer treatment) concerned with the emotional responses of patients at all stages of disease and their families.
In India, according to estimates, there are 15 lakh people suffering from cancer and of those around 60 per cent encounter psychological problems for which they need professional intervention. But how many of them actually receive that kind of help?
“Most of the psychological intervention for cancer patients is in the form of counselling and support groups and even quackery that passes off as psycho-oncology. Of the 300 cancer centres in the country there are probably only eight to 10 institutes that have integrated psycho-oncology into cancer care,” says Brinda Sitaram, psycho-oncologist and Founder Director of the newly-created Centre of Psycho-oncology for Education and Research (COPER) in Bangalore.
The centre is a pioneering effort and the first of its kind in the country with an aim to scientifically train nurses, doctors and social workers in the art of providing psychological care to patients suffering from cancer. It is an initiative of the Department of Science and Technology, Government of India, and is an associate of the National Institute of Advanced Studies (NIAS).
Emotional responses
So, what is psycho-oncology, one may ask. It is a multidisciplinary sub-speciality of oncology (cancer treatment) concerned with the emotional responses of patients at all stages of disease and their families. It is also concerned with the psychological, social and behavioural variables that influence cancer prevention, risks and survival. “Cancer impacts various facets of the individual and may affect him/her in various ways: physical, psychological, social, financial and so on. Their family members, children, friends and colleagues are also affected.
Patients experience a complex array of distress including anxiety, depression, fear, guilt, shame, social stigma, suicidal tendencies, body image disturbances, marital tension or discord, maladjustments and sexual dysfunction. All these issues have to be dealt with carefully and that is where the psycho-oncologist comes into the picture,” says Dr. Brinda. A pioneer in the area, Dr. Brinda decided to design a unique programme in psycho-oncology keeping in mind the distress that a lot of cancer patients go through while dealing with the disease and the lack of trained personnel to address their problems. COPER offers various teaching and training programmes for health care professionals such as doctors, nurses and psychologists and medical social workers.
Internship
The course will provide theoretical foundation in oncology and mental health with intense clinical training (internship) in leading cancer hospitals in the country. A three-month certificate course in psycho-oncology is being offered for nurses, while a six-month fellowship in the subject will be conducted for doctors and medical social workers (MSW/ MBBS).
A one-year diploma in psycho-oncology is also being offered to psychologists. Initially the intake will be 10 each in the three courses. The centre is located at Jayanagar, Bangalore, and can be reached on phone: 080 – 65630099 / 41230024 or e-mail: coperindia@redifffmail.com.
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