4th & 5th December, Leeds
Reaching The Hard To Reach
Thank you to Professor Galina Velikova (BPOS Chair) and her team for hosting a successful and lively 2008 annual conference in Leeds. Delegates got to enjoy typical local fare with the customary Yorkshire pudding making an appearance at the evening dinner. An energetic ceilidh band provided entertainment and vigorous encouragement for folks to find their dancing feet.
Over the two day event some 91 delegates braved the first snowfalls of the Winter to hear keynote lectures, presentations of the latest studies, and engage informally in debate on the challenges of ‘reaching the hard to reach’.
Sadly the first keynote speaker Dr Harry Burns was stranded in Glasgow by the weather. However, as a last minute replacement Dr Penny Wright was able to deliver a talk utilising the Lauria et al (2001) framework to highlight how people may respond psychologically and socially to a diagnosis of cancer and discussed the development of the ‘Social Difficulties Inventory’ intended as an additional tool in screening for distress. Professor David Cameron, Director of the National Cancer Research Network (NCRN) delivered the second keynote speech and focussing on where psychological and quality of life research fits into the activities of the NRCN. Mrs Barbara Monroe, Chief Executive of St Christopher’s Hospice, London, gave the final keynote lecture. Directly addressing the theme of the conference she highlighted how end of life care is still inadequately delivered in many areas of Britain, especially if the dying person comes from one of the hard to reach groups such as an ethnic minority or those with mental health problems. There were an excellent set of proffered papers presented orally by predominantly young researchers suggesting the field is attracting newcomers. A further 41 submissions were presented as posters (a selection can be viewed below). All of which made judging the prizes a challenge. The winners were: Newcomers cup – Emma Blows: Information and support needs of Asian and African Caribbean women with breast cancer: An exploratory study of the suitability and accessibility of services provided by cancer charities; Walker cup (experienced presenters) – Christine Campbell: Strategies to improve uptake of colorectal cancer screening in South Asian and lower income groups – a qualitative study; Best poster - Sheila Fisher et al: PROs in Head and Neck Cancer: Patients’ Views on Questionnaires and Consultation Priorities and Content. The conference also saw the launch of the new BPOS website.
It was not possible to let the details and implications of the recent announcement by Cancer Research UK (Nov’08) of its new five-year strategic plan go unacknowledged. The plan refocuses the resources of the biggest cancer charity in the UK on prevention, early diagnosis and curative treatment of cancer with the discontinuation of funding of psychosocial oncology, quality of life, and doctor-patient communication research. The impact of this on the psychosocial oncology research community and all that it serves will be played out in the coming months and years. Nevertheless, in the wake of this, many healthcare professionals and services users have already passionately expressed their support for the need for psychosocial oncology to continue to thrive. Strength is likely to be found in numbers and the hope will be that individuals, societies, and professional organisation will pull together to turn these difficult times into positive outcomes.
Make a note in your diaries for the next annual BPOS conference to be held in Cardiff 3-4 December 2009. In the meantime we encourage you to register for the one-day meeting in Birmingham on ‘Cancer Survivorship’ jointly hosted by BPOS and the British Psychological Society Special Interest Group in Oncology and Palliative Care (SIGOPAC) 17 March 2009.
A selection of the posters can be viewed below
Comparison of conventional paper versus touch screen collection of head & neck QoL data in a clinical setting - R Lee 
Talking about quality of life - the development of a communication training programme for oncologists - S McCluskey
Systematic review of post-treatment psychosocial & behaviour change interventions for men with cancer - H Dale
e-learning: a useful teaching resource for benefits? -T Young
National survey of follow up in high-grade glioma - S Catt
More than just communicating -training for HCP to improve detection & management of psychological distress - K Jenkins
Cancer patients' understanding of health related QoL outcomes in a graphical format: preliminary results - A McNair
Development of a sexual rehabilitation service for cancer patients - D Brandenburg
Antidepressants for treatment of depression in the physically ill - L Rayner
The changing body in people with advanced, incurable disease and its impact on self - S Jeynes
Survey of doctors' opinions of the legalisation of physician assisted suicide - W Lee
PROs in head and neck cancer: patients' views on questionnaires and consultation priotities and content - S Fisher