Advocacy: organized efforts to influence public policy
Affect: emotion
Alexithymia: deficiency in understanding, processing, or describing emotions. Wiki link.
ASCO: American Society of Clinical Oncology (formerly The ASCO Cancer Foundation) www.asco.org
CAPO: Canadian Association of Psychosocial Oncology; www.capo.ca
CPOP: Canadian Psychosocial Oncology Partners (that's us!)
Cohort: group of people with similar characteristics
CRT: cranial radiation
Dyspnoea: shortness of breath
Empirical evidence: knowledge derived from direct or scientific observation; data is collected and analyzed to confirm or refute a hypothesis, generating empirical evidence
Experiential evidence: subjective knowledge derived from experience
Generalizable: knowledge gained in a specific setting may validly be extended to other settings
Knowledge translation: "the exchange, synthesis and ethically-sound application of knowledge - within a complex system of interactions among researchers and users - to accelerate the capture of the benefits of research for Canadians through improved health, more effective services and products, and a strengthened health care system." Source: CIHR
MBSR: "Dr. Jon Kabat-Zinn developed the Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) program at the University of Massachusetts Medical Center...Completed studies have found that pain-related drug utilization was decreased, and activity levels and feelings of self esteem increased, for a majority of participants." Click for more.
Mental health first-aid: the help provided to a person developing a mental health problem or experiencing a mental health crisis. The first aid is given until appropriate professional treatment is received or until the crisis is resolved. The concept is based on the model of medical first aid. Click for more.
Negative affect:anger, hositility, etc.
Palliative care: "Care for people who are living with a serious illness (such as cancer), as well as for their families. Palliative care provides physical, emotional, social and spiritual support and counselling for people with cancer and for their families. The focus of care is on relieving symptoms, as well as improving quality of life at any time after diagnosis." Source: Canadian Cancer Society glossary
Patient navigation: “a system or professional role primarily intended to expedite patient access to services and resources, and improve continuity and co-ordination of care throughout the cancer continuum. Navigation should seek to address patients’ informational, emotional, and practical needs during the cancer journey." Source: BC Cancer Agency, Patient Navigation in Cancer Care, 2005
POMS: Profile of Mood States is a 65-item self-report inventory that measures six factors: tension-anxiety, depression-dejection, anger-hostility, fatigue-inertia, vigor-activity, and confusion-bewilderment. Technical details here.
Previvor: someone who has a genetic risk of developing cancer and takes preventive action such as breast removal
Psycho-oncology: "psychological, social, behavioral, and ethical aspects of cancer. This subspeciality addresses the two major psychological dimensions of cancer: the psychological responses of patients to cancer at all stages of the disease, and that of their families and caretakers; and the psychological, behavioral and social factors that may influence the disease process." Source: Psycho-Oncology, the journal.
Psychosocial oncology: "a specialty in cancer care concerned with understanding and treating the social, psychological, emotional, spiritual, quality-of-life and functional aspects of cancer, from prevention through bereavement. It is a whole-person approach to cancer care that addresses a range of very human needs that can improve quality of life for people affected by cancer." Source: CAPO
QoL: quality of life
Reliability: when a test is repeated, the result is the same each time
SIOP: International Society of Paediatric Oncology; www.siop.nl
Social determinants: "the conditions in which people are born, grow, live, work and age, including the health system. These circumstances are shaped by the distribution of money, power and resources at global, national and local levels, which are themselves influenced by policy choices. The social determinants of health are mostly responsible for health inequities - the unfair and avoidable differences in health status seen within and between countries." Source: World Health Organization
State affect: transient emotional experience in response to a trigger
Trait negative/positive affect: traits are thought to be stable aspects of personality; trait affect refers to enduring emotional responses, be they positive or negative
