Programs

Psychosocial Oncology

The Psychosocial Oncology Program is a new initiative that focuses on the development of effective and accessible psychosocial oncology interventions that will have a beneficial impact on the lives of people dealing with a cancer diagnosis.

Psychosocial Oncology emphasizes an interdisciplinary approach—incorporating clinical psychology, nursing, palliative care, and sociology research—to discover ways to improve the quality of life of cancer patients.

The program has three main goals:

• To develop research capacity and enhance recruitment of psychosocial oncology researchers;
• To train and supervise graduate students;
• To develop a teaching program in psychosocial oncology research.

Links with advocacy groups and clinicians at the various McGill sites are being developed to facilitate participatory research and ensure translatability of research results.

Current research includes the impact of information technology on patient health outcomes, the management of the patient’s pain at home by caregivers, and the impact of infertility in young male cancer survivors. In 2003, the CIHR/NCIC Strategic Training Program in Psychosocial Oncology was created to provide graduate level fellowships and awards in the field of psychosocial research. The program includes a multidisciplinary team (e.g. nursing, psychology, management and medicine) of top psychosocial researchers from McGill University, University of Manitoba, University of British Columbia and Dalhousie University. 

Psychosocial Oncology is based at the Jewish General Hospital.

Contact Information
Director:	Dr. Zeev Rosberger (514) 340-8210 x4215