The Development and Implementation of an Assessment of the Wellness Needs of Cancer Patients & Their Caregivers

HomeResearchOur StudiesThe Development and Implementation of an Assessment of the Wellness Needs of Cancer Patients & Their Caregivers

A diagnosis of cancer is life changing, and often cancer patients and their caregivers are met with daily challenges that compromise their overall sense of wellness and wellbeing.  One goal of the centre is to close the gap between what we already know works and what survivors do day to day to improve their own health and wellness.  Dimensions of wellness include physical, emotional, psychological, intellectual, occupational, environmental, and spiritual states, all of which can contribute to enhanced quality of life.  Using a wellness needs assessment questionnaire that we previously developed that taps into these dimensions, the current project will assess wellness needs of cancer patients.  Understanding the wellness needs of cancer survivors is crucial in order to successfully incorporate activities that can improve wellness into the programming and services provided at the ELLICSR: Health, Wellness and Cancer Survivorship center.  Engaging cancer patients in meaningful occupations - doing well, well-being and becoming what people are best fitted to become is essential to wellness. In developing and planning wellness programming for cancer survivors, it is important to understand the population's needs. This understanding will give insight to decision-makers around patient met and unmet wellness needs. The results from this study will guide decisions made around education offerings, program times, and resource allocation.

Stephanie Phan 416-946-4501 ext. 5267 or stephanie.phan@uhn.ca