By the end of this course, students will have gained a better understanding of the types of cancer research conducted within and outside of students’ area of expertise. Specific learning outcomes include:
• Identify and discuss cutting-edge cancer research in different disciplines
• Synthesize new research findings to a multidisciplinary audience.
• Develop critical thinking skills: evaluate and analyze the results and methods used in inter-disciplinary cancer research
For Pillar 4 – Psychosocial Oncology, course content may include:
• Research on the psychological, behavioral, emotional, and social issues affecting people with cancer and their caregivers throughout the disease trajectory i.e., from diagnosis to end of life. This includes distress screening, symptom management, and survivorship care planning.
• Research addressing specific concerns such as fear of cancer recurrence, long-term adaptation after treatment, and the impact of health communication, patient–provider relationships, and shared decision-making that impacts psychological well-being.
• Research on the effectiveness of psychosocial intervention to improve quality of life e.g., psychotherapy, support groups, meaning-centered therapy, cognitive-behavioral therapy, mindfulness, and clinical hypnosis, all in improving patient and caregiver outcomes.
• Research on primary and secondary prevention from a psychosocial perspective, including promoting healthy behaviors, reducing risk factors, enhancing screening participation, and improving adherence to early detection and follow-up care.