Background

Providing cancer patients with accurate, comprehensive information can increase knowledge and understanding of their disease and treatment, improve treatment compliance, symptom management and functional status, lower anxiety and improve coping, and improve satisfaction with care.  In addition, a comprehensive and well coordinated patient and family education program can enhance effective health care resource utilization, contribute to risk management programs designed to prevent harm to patients and visitors and improve informed consent strategies. As such, developing a comprehensive Patient Education Program should be an integral part of clinical care and best practice in a cancer center.

The National Cancer Institute's Cancer Patient Education Network (CPEN) in the United States was established in 1988 by the National Cancer Institute's Patient Education Branch. CPEN  serves as a formal mechanism for the exchange of information among cancer patient educators and to improve the delivery of cancer patient education services in NCI designated centers. Since its inception, the CPEN has developed detailed Guidelines for Establishing Comprehensive Patient Education Services; launched an electronic platform for information exchange/communication among patient educators; holds annual conferences to encourage networking, mentorship and to share best practice among cancer patient educators; conducts patient education research and evaluation.

With the establishment of CPEN Canada excellence in patient education as an integral part of patient care will be promoted nationally. This aim will be achieved by disseminating  best practice guidelines for patient education services, developing a national network for the exchange of information and resources for patient education, and by providing mentorship in the establishment of comprehensive cancer patient education services in cancer centres and hospitals across Canada.  The standards and guidelines would serve as a framework to help cancer centers, hospitals, clinics and teaching institutions develop and improve the delivery, management and quality of their cancer patient education services.  A national network would provide mentorship and support to improve the management and delivery of cancer patient education services across the country.

This page was last updated: May 10th, 2005 at 2:24am.