Advocacy

CANO/ACIO advocates on behalf of oncology nurses, patients, and their families.

CANO/ACIO Appeals to the Canadian Government

CANO/ACIO President, Jennifer Wiernikowski, appeals to the Canadian Prime Minister, Stephen Harper, to encourage the government of Canada to seize a leadership opportunity by advancing global cancer control efforts at the 2010 global economic summit meeting of G8 and G20 leaders.

Click here to view Jennifer's letter to Prime Minister Stephen Harper.

CANO/ACIO supports Distress as the 6th Vital Sign

Unmanaged emotional distress in people (children and adults) dealing with cancer and their families is of concern to oncology nurses. Oncology nurses see, first hand, the impact that distress has on the person and family throughout the cancer journey. Distress permeates all aspects of life and is prevalent throughout all phases of the cancer experience. It effects decision-making and influences one's ability to perform activities of daily living. Oncology nurses see distress in the faces of patients and families and they hear the stress in their voices when faced with an initial diagnosis of cancer or recurrence. Oncology nurses, like other members of the Health Care Team see distress in patients and families and spend considerable time assisting them to cope with distress.

CANO/ACIO's position

CANO/ACIO supports distress as the 6th vital sign. Canadians dealing with cancer and their families experience emotional distress due to the illness, the impact of the treatment, survivorship and rehabilitation issues, and death and bereavement.

What you as a CANO/ACIO member can do

  • CANO/ACIO nurses can show support of distress as the 6th vital sign through activities such as:
  • Consistently assessing distress with an evidence-based approach. There are a number of valid and reliable tools to assess distress including the National Comprehensive Cancer Network's distress thermometer and checklist (DT-NCCN), the Edmonton Symptom Assessment Scale (ESAS) and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). Consistent distress assessment is in keeping with the CCHSA Accreditation Program's standards on emotional distress: 7.9 The assessment includes processes to evaluate and monitor the client's emotional distress. 9.3 The client's service plan includes specific strategies to manage the client's pain & other symptoms.
  • Intervene to address distress once it is identified. Inform oneself about the resources available to address distress.
  • Advocate for consistent distress assessment and effective distress management.
  • Advocate for adequate resources to address distress. While the fiscal and human resource implications are significant for implementing a screening program for distress, the costs of doing nothing are also very high.
  • The ONS PEP (Putting Evidence into Practice) initiative identifies a number of evidence-based strategies that nurses can use to manage emotional distress. Please go to their web site for more information, www.ons.com
  • Submit a short article to CANO/ACIO Connections or the CONJ describing ways that nurses can help patients and their families manage emotional distress.
  • Help create a section on the CANO/ACIO web site that offers resources for assessing and managing distress. If this is of interest to you, please contact Vanessa Grieve the Director-at-Large, Education at Vanessa.grieve@sjghcomox.ca. We would love to hear from you regarding this type of project.
  • Build psychosocial distress into oncology nursing orientation and continuing education.
  • Participate in research opportunities with respect to psychosocial oncology.
  • Use the Advanced Practice Nurse as consultant for complex psychosocial care.
  • Advocate at a systems level to ensure psychosocial care is part of key structures; steering committee, supportive care committee.
  • Ensure proper assessment and management of symptoms or side effects of treatment as well.

CANO/ACIO supports a National Catastrophic Drug Plan

The Issue: Access to High Cost Cancer Drugs, including Support Medications

One of the most pressing healthcare issues facing Canadians dealing with cancer today is the ever-escalating cost of prescription medications. Patients’ inability to access prescription cancer medications, including support medications due to the lack of a personal health insurance plan or the high co-pay is of great concern to oncology nurses. The high cost of medication is of concern to oncology nurses today; it has been a concern of oncology nurses for many years. Oncology nurses see, first hand, the impact that the inability to access needed medication due to costs causes patients and their families. Oncology nurses see the anxiety in the faces of patients and families faces and they hear the stress in their voices when faced with high out-of-pocket costs for medications. Oncology nurses, like other members of the Health Care Team spend time with patients and families assisting them to cope with the high cost of medications and assisting them to get access to the medications they need. The high cost of cancer drugs is not a burden any person should have to deal with during such a traumatic and difficult time in his/her life.

CANO/ACIO’s position

CANO/ACIO supports a national catastrophic drug coverage plan. Canadians dealing with cancer need a national program to ensure that they can focus on dealing with their illness, not worry about if or how they can get financial coverage for their medication.

What you as a CANO/ACIO member can do

CANO/ACIO nurses can show support of a national catastrophic drug coverage plan through activities such as:

  • Discuss the concerns of escalating drug costs within their chapters
  • Inform oneself about what is being done at your local level (cancer center, hospital, community) to assist patients to access the medications they need
  • Advocate on behalf of their patients to key stakeholders (for example, government officials, cancer system administrators, pharmaceutical companies, etc.)
  • Become informed of the issue. The Campaign to Control Cancer has outlined a national catastrophic drug coverage plan as a priority for immediate action. Oncology nurses can find information about what the Cancer Advocacy Coalition of Canada is doing regarding this issue by visiting their web site at http://www.controlcancer.ca or by visiting http://action.controlcancer.ca