Download 7 March 2012

MEDIA RELEASE
3 March, 2014
The psychology behind cancer: Ingham Institute Researcher Professor Afaf Girgis
presents findings of ‘Coping-Together’ and ‘PROMPT-Care’ studies
Women’s cancer research programs highlighted at the Ingham Institute Hope
Luncheon: Friday March 7, 2014
Much research has been conducted on the adverse physical impact that cancer has on patients,
but what about the psychological impact? Acclaimed Ingham Institute Psycho Oncology
researcher Professor Afaf Girgis will present the latest findings of her group’s cancer projects at
the Ingham Institute Hope Luncheon celebrating International Women’s Day on Friday 7
March 2014.
“Psycho Oncology is a vital component of cancer research that investigates the psychological,
social and behavioural aspects of cancer – factors that are generally overlooked in cancer
research but are of equal importance to investigating the physical impact of the disease,”
explained Professor Girgis.
Professor Girgis is leading two projects, ‘Coping-Together’ and ‘PROMPT-Care’ at the Ingham
Institute to make a significant difference to the wellbeing of Australian women suffering from
cancer. With her 24 years of experience in this niche area of cancer research, she is recognised
as an international leader in Psycho Oncology.
The latest statistics show that Australian females have a one in three risk of being diagnosed with
cancer by the time they are 85. [i] The most common diagnoses for women are breast (1 in 8
females), bowel (1 in 15), lung (1 in 22), and skin (1 in 23). [ii]
Coping-Together: improving the health and wellbeing of patients and partners
Funded by the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) and the Clinical
Oncological Society of Australia (COSA), Coping-Together is a national, self-directed, multimedia
coping skills intervention program that aims to provide patients with cancer and their partners with
a complete suite of practical resources to support them in managing the significant physical and
psychosocial effects of the disease.
The first round of resources was completed in 2013 and includes a series of six booklets, a DVD,
‘Learning to Relax’ CD and a log-in to a Coping-Together website. The materials were recently
piloted with prostate cancer patients and their partners.
“Feedback from the pilot study has been overwhelmingly positive, with respondents describing
the resources as a guiding light and providing a platform for open communication between
patients and their partners,” said Professor Girgis.
“There are no words to describe the emotional rollercoaster that patients experience when finding
out that they have cancer. What’s often left out of this equation is the impact that it has on their
partners, with research studies showing that partners can sometimes have more of an emotional
reaction to the effects of the disease than the patients,” she continued.
“This is why Coping-Together targets both patients and their partners. The materials are in a selfdirected format which couples can use in their homes and at their own pace, making them
suitable for everyone, including people in rural and remote communities,” she said.
A critical phase of the study will involve the research team evaluating the impact of the final
version of the Coping-Together resources by a broad spectrum of cancer patients and their
partners across Australia, with a focus on cancers prevalent with women including breast,
colorectal and melanoma.
“So far we have recruited 11 couples and our goal is to recruit a total of 600 couples so we are
currently calling out for Australian cancer patients who were recently diagnosed with breast,
colorectal or prostate cancer or melanoma and their partners to get involved. The sooner we
reach our target, the sooner we can launch the resources and help to improve both the physical
and mental wellbeing of cancer patients and their partners,” Professor Girgis continued.
PROMPT-Care: the online portal helping cancer survivors maximise their health consults
Like the name suggests, the PROMPT-Care project, funded by the Cancer Institute NSW, aims to
give patients prompt care by asking them to report on their physical and psychological wellbeing
in the waiting room using iPads or tablets. This information is then automatically fed back directly
to their treatment team to address these concerns at the time of their consultation.
“A lot of patients leave their healthcare practitioners rooms feeling that they haven’t asked the
right questions or perhaps they had a burning question about their health that they overlooked
during their appointment. The PROMPT-Care project aims to alleviate this by capturing their
concerns electronically via an iPad or a tablet prior to their appointment so that patients can
improve their experience in terms of maximising their time and communication during the
appointment,” explained Professor Girgis.
“It’s very clear from research that patients are keen to maximise their time and communication
with their healthcare practitioners and many want as much information as they can get to help
them to make the right decisions about the management and treatment of their disease,”
“Patients are also often asking what they can do to help themselves, so we will also be
developing a website which contains a suite of tools and resources to help cancer survivors
monitor, assess and self-manage their own health needs, with access to evidence-based selfmanagement information,” she continued.
PROMPT-Care will focus on a broad range of cancers including female specific cancers such as
breast cancer. Work on the PROMPT-Care project commenced in 2013 and is expected to be
completed by mid-2015, with the ultimate goal for it to be rolled out in cancer therapy centres
throughout NSW.
“This project will enable patients to take an active role in decision making and managing their
ongoing care and recovery and will also enhance communication with their GPs. We hope that
PROMPT-Care system will play a strong role in improving the survivorship experience and quality
of life of patients in NSW and eventually across Australia,” said Professor Girgis.
WHAT: The Ingham Institute Hope Luncheon
WHEN: Friday March 7, 2014 11am – 2:30pm
WHERE: Harrington Grove Country Club: 1 Forestgrove Rd Harrington Park 2567
DETAILS: The Ingham Institute Hope Luncheon will celebrate International Women’s
Day and the achievements and talents of women in science at the Ingham Institute.
MASTER OF CEREMONIES: Channel 9 Today Show Co-Host and Ingham Institute
Ambassador Lisa Wilkinson.
MAJOR SPONSORS: Narellan Pools, Harrington Grove Country Club, Coutts Solicitors &
Conveyancers, Absolutely Fabulous Event Decorations and Marsdens Law Group.
***This event is SOLD OUT with ticket sales exhausted***
For further information or to arrange a media interview please contact Sophie Cooley,
Marketing & Communications Manager at the Ingham Institute on 02 8738-9000 / 0417 421
683 or [email protected]
About the Ingham Institute
The Ingham Institute is a not-for-profit research organisation in Sydney established to undertake
medical research that specifically addresses, and can be applied to, the needs of the local
population and wider Australia
Located at Liverpool Hospital, the Ingham Institute is changing the way medical research is
done in Australia by transferring research into practice across its six research streams, enabling
the swift transfer of findings into day-to-day medical practice.
The Institute’s research team are focused on exploring new medical approaches for a range of
critical disease including cancer, clinical science (comprising cardiovascular disease and
infectious and inflammatory diseases), community & population health, early years/childhood
health, injury and rehabilitation and mental health and are at the forefront of the most advanced
medical breakthroughs and clinical outcomes.
[i]
[ii]
Australian Institute of Health and Welfare
Australian Institute of Health and Welfare