A MODEL CURRICULUM FOR TRAINING IN PSYCHO-ONCOLOGY

The increased awareness of the cancer patient's psychosocial needs in the past few years has led to the development of training programs for health professionals working in oncology. Given the diversity of trai ning goals, professionals involved in the care of patients, institutio nal resources and local needs, there is a lack of uniform criteria to train specialists in the field of psyche-oncology, This paper describe s a model for a one-year curriculum the objective of which is to estab lish minimal standards of training to become a professional who is sub specialized in adult or child and adolescent psyche-oncology, The curr iculum primarily consists of a didactic and a skills development compo nents. Selection of trainees and faculty as well as teaching tools and evaluation of the curriculum are described. The second part of the mo del curriculum contains specific recommendations that address the part icular educational needs of specific oncological disciplines (oncologi sts, nurses, social workers) and volunteers. In addition, the need for multidisciplinary teams in oncology settings is emphasized. Defining minimum standards for training across institutions and even nations wi ll not only improve patient care but will also contribute to define ps yche-oncology as a discipline.