NEXUS Spring Institute

The Complementary Medicine Education and Outcomes (CAMEO) Program: Taking the knowledge to the bedside Verhoef, Marja; Truant, Tracy; Balneaves, Lynda; Porcino, Antony; Ross, Brenda

Abstract

Complementary medicine (CAM) use has become part of the care experience for Canadians living with cancer. A growing body of research has demonstrated that decision making about CAM within cancer treatment and care is complex and often overwhelming for patients. Patients require support from the interprofessional health care team to effectively make safe decisions about CAM. An interprofessional team of researchers and clinicians have collaborated at the BC Cancer Agency to develop an innovative program to address patient and health care professional needs related to CAM decision making within the cancer experience. The purpose of this presentation is to describe the recent development of the Complementary Medicine Education and Outcomes (CAMEO) Program at the BC Cancer Agency in Vancouver, BC. The objectives of the CAMEO Program as well as the planned knowledge translation activities related to CAM information and decision support will be discussed. The CAMEO Program is a 4-year program that aims to: 1) support people with cancer in making CAM decisions; 2) strengthen health professionals’ knowledge and clinical skills related to CAM; and 3) facilitate the development of new CAM research knowledge. To achieve these goals, a variety of knowledge translation projects are under development, including continuing education programs for both patients and health professionals, one-on-one counselling for patients with complex needs related to CAM, and clinical tools and guidelines to assist health professionals in supporting safe and informed decisions about CAM. With the predominance of CAM use within cancer populations, the CAMEO program is an important step in the knowledge translation process that will “take the knowledge to the bedside” and provide support to cancer patients in making safe and evidence-informed decisions about CAM.

Item Media

Item Citations and Data

Rights

Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International