Psycho-oncology Co-operative Research Group (PoCoG)

• Category Marryalyan
• DATE 23 Nov 2022

Psycho-oncology Co-operative Research Group (PoCoG)

November 2022

The Psycho-oncology Co-operative Research Group is a multidisciplinary trials group with more than 2000 health care professionals and researchers who share a common mission of improving the emotional support and psychological care of people affected by cancer.

To this end our scope of work is wide ranging and our research, developed in conjunction with our multi-disciplinary Scientific Advisory Committee, aims to meet current priorities as well as anticipate future needs.  

Research

In 2022 we completed the final analyses of two flagship programs of research: the ADAPT Program, which aimed to assess implementation of a clinical pathway for identification and management of anxiety and depression in adult cancer patients (ADAPT CP) across 12 cancer services in NSW; and the PIGEON Program which includes two inter-related longitudinal studies which explore the psychosocial, behavioural and ethical issues and outcomes of cancer genomic testing. Both programs have generated a number of publications available on the PoCoG website.

Progress on the BRAiNS program (Brain cancer Rehabilitation, Assessment and Intervention for survivorship NeedS) scaled up considerably this year and will continue to do so in 2023.

BRAiNS is a national collaboration with the Cooperative Group in Neuro-Oncology (COGNO), Cancer Symptom Trials Group (CST) and the Primary Care Collaborative Cancer Clinical Trials Group (PC4) and aims to deliver care that encompasses implementing screening for needs assessment and symptoms; exploring optimal models of survivorship care; addressing information needs of patients and carers; caring for caregivers and examining rehabilitative and supportive care interventions in this population.

A number of intervention studies are currently recruiting. For more information, please contact the BRAiNS team at PoCoG [email protected]. More details of studies are provided on the PoCoG website.

Concept Development Workshops

PoCoG holds concept development workshops to support members to develop and refine research proposals aimed at generating funding applications. PoCoG’s Fear of Cancer Recurrence (FCR) Special Interest Group hosted an FCR themed workshop in late November bringing together clinicians and researchers with an interest in FCR and focused on building a sustainable stepped care model of care that incorporates identification and management of FCR. This exciting national collaboration is in its early stages, but we will keep you updated.  

We will conduct an open call for our next concept development workshop in the first quarter of 2023. This CDW will focus on research proposals aimed at improving equity of outcomes across priority populations.

The year ahead

2023 is shaping up to be a busy year as we work towards the launch of our second e-learning module for clinicians and researchers working with First Nations communities, developed in collaboration with Professor Gail Garvey from the University of Queensland. The first module can be viewed here. 

We are also working closely with our Special Interest Groups to develop and deliver a range of capacity building opportunities for members and come the New Year, planning will start on our 2023 Scientific Meeting.  We look forward to seeing you there.

Learn more about PoCoG activities and join here.