Since 2016, the Models of Cancer Care research program is a comprehensive and multidisciplinary initiative focused on symptom and late effects research in oncology.
This program integrates user involvement with psychosocial, behavioral, clinical, and biological aspects to enhance the understanding and management of cancer and treatment-related symptoms and late effects. This approach supports the development of evidence-based strategies that promote quality of life, resilience, and recovery across the cancer care continuum.
The program is designed to improve clinical and supportive care, palliation, and rehabilitation outcomes for people with cancer and their families. By actively involving patients and caregivers in the research process, it ensures that care models are responsive to real-world needs and experiences. Through collaboration across disciplines and sectors, the Models of Cancer Care program continues to inform policy, guide clinical practice, and empower individuals affected by cancer.
Purpose
- To develop knowledge and strategies to manage cancer and treatment-related symptoms in partnership with patients and families, and to enable decision-making to give more choice to people with cancer.
- To explore the feasibility and effect of different clinical care models and interventions in the management of symptoms in patients with cancer and their families.
- To evaluate whether improvement in symptom assessment and management skills of health care professionals, patients and families can have a clinical impact.
We hypothesize that by actively engaging patients and families in the research process and in management of multiple symptoms during cancer treatment will reduce the symptom burden, ensure optimal adherence to treatment and improve quality of life.
Domain for health care professionals
- Responsibility in education
- Clinical and research obligation
- Partnership with patients and families
- Influence policy agenda
Model and theory development
Contribute to the model and theory development of cancer symptom science and symptom management relying on patient and family involvment.
Cancer symptom science research unit
A Cancer Symptom Science Research Unit will be established in partnership with multidisciplinary groups and patients/families to create and share knowledge and goals, and support coherence and direction in symptom research and symptom management.
Symptom science research
Models of Cancer Care is a symptom science research program that guides future directions within early and late symptom prevention, control and management across the cancer trajectory with the aim of improving patient and family health, safety and quality of life during and after cancer treatment.
The main strategy is to develop and share symptom science knowledge in close collaboration with researchers, patients/ families and clinical practice, and across educational levels, institutions and multidisciplinary teams.