Development of a psychosocial oncology core curriculum for multidisciplinary education and training: Initial content validation using the modified Delphi Method

Abstract

Objective: Despite its four decade history, the multidisciplinary specialty of psychosocial oncology (PSO) has no official consensus on core content. In 2014, the American Psychosocial Oncology Society (APOS) Board charged the APOS Professional Education Committee with outlining curricular content needed for core competence. Methods: Content validation was completed using a four-phase modified Delphi Method. During Phase I, a Professional Education Committee subgroup proposed domains and items, which were rated by the APOS Fellows and Board via online survey. During Phase II, Fellows completed a second, revised survey. Phase III incorporated early career members. Developmental and diversity items were integrated into each domain. In Phase IV, a larger group of subject matter experts were surveyed, with feedback incorporated. Validation across phases involved average rating thresholds, intraclass correlations, and final percent agreement.

Core‐curriculum in psycho‐oncology: Towards the certification of the psycho‐oncologist profession

“…The authors underlined that basic concepts of psychosocial adaptation, communication skills and recognition of the nature and types of interventions available, are needed for general oncology staff (e.g., physicians, social workers and nurses), while specialist interventions in the field should be provided by mental health workers, such as psychiatrists and psychologists. More recently, Wells‐Di Gregorio et al 30 . illustrated the main domains resulting from of a Delphi Method that the APOS Professional Education Committee conducted to develop a specific curriculum in psycho‐oncology.…”

“…spite of this, a second result shows there is a general lack of formal and national official courses for this specialty in most coun-the nature and types of interventions available, are needed for general oncology staff (e.g., physicians, social workers and nurses), while specialist interventions in the field should be provided by mental health workers, such as psychiatrists and psychologists. More recently, Wells-Di Gregorio et al30 illustrated the main domains resulting from of a Delphi Method that the APOS It is evident that there are variations in the national health organization systems regarding mental health care provision amongst the medically ill,31 including who can deliver psychotherapy.Regarding psycho-oncology, some examples (e.g., Germany, Switzerland) could be followed with the aim to propose, at least on a European level, standards for a sub-specialty within the field of clinical psychology and psychiatry, the mechanisms for certification…”

Perspectives of postdoctoral fellows: A qualitative study of clinical supervision in psycho-oncology.

“…Addressing issues of diversity in supervision should be encouraged, as projections for the United States suggest that patients will continue to be more racially and ethnically diverse (Vespa et al, 2020), including in publicly funded settings. Experts in psycho-oncology recognize that the field needs more and better-informed professionals to deliver culturally affirming care (Wells-Di Gregorio et al, 2022). Clinical supervision can be a place where this training occurs.…”

The unmet need of psycho-oncology services for integrated cancer care in India: a review

“…Specific distress screening tools, intervention algorithms, the role of different therapies as well as medications in these patients as well as the respect for the religious and spiritual needs of patients with help of chaplains and similar staff are all being developed and evolved to improve patient experience and satisfaction with cancer care pathways. [29][30][31][32]…”