Extending Cancer Stress Management to the Rural Practice Setting
Extending Cancer Stress Management to the Rural Practice Setting is organized by Vermont Psychological Association (VPA).
Description:
Comprehensive cancer care includes mandated screening for and treatment of cancer distress (e.g., depression and anxiety symptoms). However, a gap persists between recognition of distress and access to evidence-based treatment, especially for rural populations. Rural populations face unique barriers, higher rates of mental health disorders, and limited access to mental and behavioral health services. Relatedly, rural cancer survivors report distress akin to anxiety and depressive disorders at a higher rate than urban survivors (18.8% vs. 12.8%, respectively). Unfortunately, geographic distance from Comprehensive Cancer Centers is a barrier to cancer distress treatment programs. These distress disparities exist in the larger context of disparities in health outcomes, mortality and morbidity rates, and health care access. Effective and robust interventions to reduce cancer distress exist. In order to reduce disparities in rural cancer care, it is critical that effective interventions for cancer distress are scaled to and adapted for rural settings.This presentation utilizes Social Cognitive Processing Theory and the Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Framework to outline the effects of Cancer Stress Management, based upon the scientific literature. Effects include reduced cancer distress, reduced symptoms of anxiety and depression, improved immune markers, and potentially improved rates of cancer recurrence and mortality based on two highly rigorous, independently conducted scientific studies that each lasted over 10 years. Patient feedback from a 5 session, 10-hour "dose" of Cancer Stress Management delivered in Minnesota will be reviewed to provide the patient perspective on how this intervention contributes to and improves upon cancer care. Next, barriers to receiving Cancer Stress Management will be reviewed, including most prominently greater geographic distance from a Comprehensive Cancer Center. Finally, facilitating factors be reviewed. Culturally, facilitators include the social values of strong community and self-reliance, which Cancer Stress Management promotes. Practically, facilitators include potential methods and modalities to extend the rigorous and effective Cancer Stress Management intervention to rural practice settings (e.g., telehealth).
Learning Objectives:
This session is at the intermediate level and is designed for psychologists and other mental health professionals.
At the end of this presentation, participants will be able to:
1) Describe mental health care disparities among rural cancer survivors.
2) Describe psychological and behavioral health components of comprehensive cancer care.
3) Explain the effects and potential mechanisms of Cancer Stress Management in improving health.
4) List at least three modalities for extending integrated specialty care to the rural practice setting.
Additional details will be posted as soon as information is available.