Knowledge Hub 7

Survivorship_Navigation_KHub7_July1

Knowledge Hub 07: Survivorship and Supportive Care

Learning Objectives

By the end of this Knowledge Hub, you will be able to:

  1. Differentiate between the distinct types of psychosocial support.
  2. Identify the role of family in survivorship, emotional and psychosocial support and psychosocial needs.
  3. Record challenges for integration and continuity of care and improve transition in care.
  4. Discover the professional role in collaborative relationship building and empowerment of patients.

Introduction

As covered in previous hubs, cancer can have an intense effect on many aspects of a patient and their family’s lives. This experience may require specific support networks for them to seek out to gain a better understanding of their illness and how to cope. Patients can cope more easily with a strong support network and access to sources to receive various types of social support. In this hub, we will discuss how social support relates to cancer care and the different types of support patients and families can explore during a cancer journey. We will also discuss the family and caregivers’ role in supporting the patient (BC Cancer, 2023; Fitch, 2008).

1. Differentiate between the distinct types of psychosocial support.

1.1 What is supportive care in cancer care?

Supportive care in cancer is a wide range of sources available to patients to provide services to all patients to attend to their psychosocial, physical, and emotional support needs (BC Cancer, 2023). A supportive care team could can include physiotherapists, doctors, nurses, counselling, pain management services, psychiatrists, and speech-language pathologists (BC Cancer, 2023). The goal of this team is to make services available to patients to best support them throughout their unique cancer journey (BC Cancer, 2023; Fitch, 2008).

Refer to Support programs at http://www.bccancer.bc.ca/our-services/services/support-programs (BC Cancer, 2024)

1.2 What are the types of psychosocial and emotional support for patients and caregivers?

  1. Emotional Support: verbal and nonverbal communication, this can include listening, empathizing, comforting, and reassuring patients about concerns or feelings to make them feel validated (Helgeson, 1996). This can lead to interpersonal relationships developing and allow for the expression of distress to others (Helgeson, 1996).
  2. Informational Support: this support is the guidance of giving information or advice to patients. This information can give patients the ability to make decisions about their care and become empowered to become involved and understand their disease or symptoms more clearly. (Helgeson, 1996).
  3. Instrumental Support: is the support that is provided through material goods. This can be money, assistance with tasks of daily living, or transportation. This can help patients feel a sense of control in their lives and feel support through tasks that they may have not been able to complete due to their cancer or symptoms (Helgeson, 1996).

Refer to emotional support at http://www.bccancer.bc.ca/health-info/coping-with-cancer/emotional-support (BC Cancer, 2024).

1.3 What are the benefits of psychosocial support?

Psychosocial support benefits cancer patients in many different ways. It can allow patients to feel a sense of belonging and reduce stress (CMHA, 2018). Cancer can affect the entire body, physically and emotionally, and finding services and techniques to minimize these effects can help patients feel as if they have a support network to help them cope with their cancer without feeling like a burden (CMHA, 2018). By having psychosocial support, cancer patients can have an increased quality of life and experience less distress (Applebaum, 2014).

Refer to psychosocial oncology http://www.bccancer.bc.ca/health-professionals/clinical-resources/psychosocial-oncology (BC Cancer, 2024).

Refer to services and supports at http://www.bccancer.bc.ca/our-services/patient-guide/services-support (BC Cancer, 2024).

1.4 What is peer support and peer mentoring with examples using a case study?

Peer support can be defined as “a process in which survivors offer support to their peers. Peer supporters experience their health issues and therefore are in a unique position to offer support to others to improve the quality of their lives” (BC Government, 2001). Peer support can be offered in a multitude of different platforms, one-to-one support, group-based, professional-led, online forums, and camps ( CCS, 2023).

Video example of peer mentor support (WellSpring Cancer Support, 2015).

1.5 What is professional led support groups with examples using a case study?

Professional led support groups are led by trained faculty to help patients and survivors share their stories, concerns, and experiences, or be a listening ear for them. This can help them develop a better network of support and find new coping strategies for their cancer challenges (Hope & Cope, 2023).

2. Identify the role of family in emotional and psychosocial support and psychosocial needs.

2.1 What is the role of family in providing psychosocial support?

Family members of cancer patients have a significant role in providing psychological support to their loved one. The goal of a family caregiver is to maintain a strong quality of life for the patient, enhance the patient’s comfort, and minimize physical and emotional distress to the patient (Given et al., 2001). Family plays a role in all phases of a cancer journey from diagnosis, treatment, survivorship, and end of life (Given et al., 2001).

2.2 What is the role of family and caregivers in decision-making support?

Family and caregivers play a vital role in decision-making support for patients. Many patients feel at ease when their family is involved in their decisions which can lead to greater patient satisfaction with care plans (Hobbs et al., 2015). Over 46% of patients come to appointments with family members showing how important caregivers and family are to the decision-making of patients (Hobbs et al., 2015).

3. Record challenges for integration and continuity of care and improve transition in care.

3.1 Describe the role of local community services, support, and resources.

Canadian Cancer Society’s online community : An online community that helps people who have cancer have had cancer, and their loved ones/caregivers to create a community to connect these individuals to others who are experiencing similar experiences. You can browse discussions, and forums, and ask questions to others. (Canadian Cancer Society, 2021).

Kamloops Cancer Connections : On this website, they have links to local physical health, mental health, and community support resources.

BC Cancer Workshops : Has a list of support groups mostly offered on Zoom that vary from art group, living with metastatic cancer, mindfulness, and a return-to-work seminar. Multiple workshops are also being offered in different languages.

Refer to the community oncology network http://www.bccancer.bc.ca/health-professionals/networks/community-oncology-network (BC Cancer, 2024).

Refer to Connect with our online community at https://cancer.ca/en/living-with-cancer/how-we-can-help/connect-with-our-online-community (Canadian Cancer Society, 2024).

3.2 What are the types of continuity of care?

  1. Informational continuity: This is based on the transfer of information between health care professionals and patients or their families. This can have a large impact on how an illness is experienced and how a patient’s suffering is communicated to the team (Dumont, 2005). Poor informational continuity can lead to poor patient satisfaction, reduced quality of care and increased experiences of anxiety, and distress (Dumont, 2005).
  2. Management continuity: This is based on the coordination of services to improve access and follow-up for patients. Timing and scheduling can be incredible issues with this type of continuity and can lead to a poor transfer of care between healthcare providers (Dumont, 2005).
  3. Relational continuity: This continuity is based on the relationships that are formed with healthcare providers and their patients/families. This can be affected by the level of information given to patients and how teaching is provided. This continuity can be very impactful on the patient’s decision-making (Dumont, 2005).

4. Discover the professional role in collaborative relationship building and empowerment of patients.

4.1 How do healthcare professionals empower patients?

Patient empowerment can be achieved in many different ways, they need to feel supported in their physical, emotional, psychological and informational needs (Fitch, 2008). Some examples include planning strategies, building therapeutic relationships, assessing and adjusting learning techniques to each individual, ongoing support and encouragement discussing patients’ concerns and connecting them to sources (Fitch, 2008).

Refer to Cancer Support: dealing with emotions and fears at https://www.healthlinkbc.ca/illnesses-conditions/cancer/cancer-support-dealing-emotions-and-fears (HealthLinkBC, 2024).

Refer to family practice oncology network at http://www.bccancer.bc.ca/health-professionals/networks/family-practice-oncology-network (BC Cancer, 2024).

Summary

In this hub, we discussed the importance of social support in cancer patients and how each different type of support can influence a cancer journey. There are various types of emotional support for patients to receive such as counselling, group therapy, and online forums. Support can affect the level of continuity in patients living with cancer. Informational, Relational, and Management continuity can all affect the patient’s level of satisfaction and their level of distress. Providing sufficient sources of support can help the quality of care and decrease emotional distress (BC Cancer, 2023; Fitch, 2008; Helgeson, 1996).

References

  1. Applebaum, A. J., Stein, E. M., Lord-Bessen, J., Pessin, H., Rosenfeld, B., Breitbart, W. (2014). Optimism, social support, and mental health outcomes in patients with advanced cancer. Psychooncology, 23 (3), 299-306. doi:10.1002/pon.3418
  2. BC Cancer. (2023). Supportive Care . http://www.bccancer.bc.ca/our-services/services/supportive-care
  3. BC Government. (2001). Peer Support Resource Manual. Ministry of Health Services. https://www.health.gov.bc.ca/library/publications/year/2001/MHA_Peer_Support_Manual.pdf
  4. Canadian Cancer Society. (2021a). CancerConnection. Retrieved from https://cancerconnection.ca/peersupport
  5. Canadian Cancer Society. (2023). Finding support. https://cancer.ca/en/living-with-cancer/your-child-has-cancer/coping-with-a-child-s-cancer/finding-support
  6. Canadian Mental Health Association [CMHA]. (2018). Social Support. Retrieved from https://cmha.ca/documents/social-support
  7. Dumont, I., Dumont, S., Turgeon, J. (2005). Continuity of care for advanced cancer patients. J Palliat Care , 21(1), 49-56.
  8. Fitch, M. I. (2008). Supportive care framework. Can Oncol Nurs J, 18 (1), 6-24. doi:10.5737/1181912×181614
  9. Given, B. A., Given, C. W., Kozachik, S. (2001). Family support in advanced cancer. CA Cancer J Clin, 51 (4), 213-231. doi:10.3322/canjclin.51.4.213
  10. Helgeson, V. S., Cohen, S. (1996). Social support and adjustment to cancer: reconciling descriptive, correlational, and intervention research. Health Psychol, 15 (2), 135-148. doi:10.1037//0278-6133.15.2.135
  11. Hobbs, G. S., Landrum, M. B., Arora, N. K., Ganz, P. A., van Ryn, M., Weeks, J. C., Mack, J. W., Keating, N. L. (2015). The role of families in decisions regarding cancer treatments. Cancer, 121 (7), 1079-1087. doi:10.1002/cncr.29064
  12. Hope & Cope. (2023). Peer Support . https://hopeandcope.ca/peer-support/
  13. Kamloops Cancer Connections. (2023). Connecting our Community. https://www.kamloopscancerconnections.ca

Resources

  1. BC Cancer. (2024, April). Support programs. Provincial Health Services Authority, BC Cancer, British Columbia.

http://www.bccancer.bc.ca/our-services/services/supportive-care

  1. BC Cancer. (2024, April). Support programs. Provincial Health Services Authority, BC Cancer, British Columbia.

http://www.bccancer.bc.ca/our-services/services/support-programs

  1. BC Cancer. (2024, April). emotional support. Provincial Health Services Authority, BC Cancer, British Columbia.

http://www.bccancer.bc.ca/health-info/coping-with-cancer/emotional-support

  1. BC Cancer. (2024, April). psychosocial oncology. Provincial Health Services Authority, BC Cancer, British Columbia.

http://www.bccancer.bc.ca/health-professionals/clinical-resources/psychosocial-oncology

  1. BC Cancer. (2024, April). services and support s. Provincial Health Services Authority, BC Cancer, British Columbia.

http://www.bccancer.bc.ca/our-services/patient-guide/services-support

  1. BC Cancer. (2024, April). community oncology network. Provincial Health Services Authority, BC Cancer, British Columbia.

http://www.bccancer.bc.ca/health-professionals/networks/community-oncology-network

  1. Canadian Cancer Society. (2024, April). Connect with our online community, Canadian Cancer Society, Canada.
https://cancer.ca/en/living-with-cancer/how-we-can-help/connect-with-our-online-community
  1. HealthLinkBC. (2024, April). Cancer support: dealing with emotions and fears. HealthLinkBC, British Columbia.
https://www.healthlinkbc.ca/illnesses-conditions/cancer/cancer-support-dealing-emotions-and-fears
  1. BC Cancer. (2024, April). family practice oncology network. Provincial Health Services Authority, BC Cancer, British Columbia.

http://www.bccancer.bc.ca/health-professionals/networks/family-practice-oncology-network

Videos

Wellspring Cancer Support. (2015, April 14). Peer Support at Wellspring Cancer Support Network . [Video]. Youtube. https://youtu.be/YxWuMODoLfU?si=8Xuan3_eYuj6J-gN

Yerbba – Breast Cancer. (2021, June 17). Cancer support groups: when, why, and how . [Video]. Youtube. https://youtu.be/1_cohv0aDgs?si=U5YklndPcGVeTiY4

Images

Arkansas Shutterbug. (2008). [He said that he still loves me]. Flickr. https://flic.kr/p/5pFGLb