Cancer Advocacy & Patient Education (CAPE)
Academy of Oncology Nurse & Patient Navigators (AONN+)
Phil Pawelko, Senior Vice President, Client Services
ppawelko@the-lynx-group.com
The Cancer Advocacy & Patient Education (CAPE) initiative aims to create a web-based library of best-practice information providers can give to their patients and caregivers at each point of interaction. The mission of this program is to engage, inform, and empower newly diagnosed cancer patients using a predetermined quality-of-life model to reduce distress and improve patient experience between diagnosis, first treatment, and then across the disease trajectory.
The CAPE program’s web-based platform allows nurse navigators and HCPs to deliver a personalized digital prescription to cancer patients and caregivers of cultivated, evidence-based, best-of-the-best resources based on their physical, psychological, social, and spiritual well-being needs. Additionally, the education platform will assist the identification of interventions or tools to improve quality of life throughout the disease process.
Based on the identified areas of concern, seven modules for the integrative education program were outlined, and current best-practice resources and tools were gathered for each module. The seven modules are: 1) Understanding Your Diagnosis, 2) Treatment & Clinical Trials, 3) Self-Care, 4) Coping, 5) Shared Decision-Making, 6) Financial, and 7) Caregiver & Family Role.
Initially, the CAPE initiative began as a lung cancer only program, but due to its ongoing success, over the last year additional cancer types have been added including chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), among other disease states. Each has the same goals and mission, and their own distinguished faculty. Ultimately, the programs help to make the time between diagnosis and treatment as productive and meaningful as possible; improve communication and shared decision-making around diagnosis, testing, and treatment between the patient, caregiver, and the cancer treatment team; and ensure patient understanding of their diagnostic and treatment journey, individualized to their disease state.
