HealthForumOnline Announces a Newly Updated Online CE Course for Clinicians to Enhance Adaptation to Ovarian Cancer
Philadelphia, PA (PRWEB) October 06, 2015 -- HealthForumOnline (HFO) has recently updated one of its online continuing education (CE) courses for psychologists, social workers, counselors and other allied health care workers, Enhancing Adaptation to Ovarian Cancer (OVCA): A Clinician’s Guide; one of ten cancer-related courses in HFO’s Cancer Adaptation category. HFO’s cost effective and convenient CE resource library is comprised of over 100 online CE courses for mental health professionals from over 20 course categories related to behavioral health.
Ovarian cancer accounts for nearly 3% of all cancers among women. It is the ninth most common cancer and fourth most common cause of cancer death in women. In 2015, an estimated 21,290 women in the United States will be diagnosed with ovarian cancer, and an estimated 14,180 deaths will occur from the disease (1).
Although physicians recognize the importance of psychological factors on disease adjustment and outcomes, guiding the psychosocial care of the ovarian cancer patient often resides more in the domain of the mental health professional (e.g., clinical psychologist, social worker, professional counselor) (2,3). This newly updated online CE course serves as an important resource for mental health professionals faced with the care of the ovarian cancer patient, either in the form of a new patient presenting with ovarian cancer-related primary problems, or an ovarian cancer diagnosis of a patient, or the family member of a patient, already under their care. Its discussion of issues that present in therapy with ovarian cancer patients is guided by theoretical models within Health Psychology (e.g., 4,5) and empirically based, disease-specific data (e.g., 6).
Specifically, the newly updated online CE course reviews current psychological theory and empirical evidence relevant to applied clinical practice in the OVCA context (e.g., psychosexual impact and adaptation across the disease continuum; gender-specific issues regarding coping with health threat). Course material identifies and discusses the physical and psychological sequelae of an OVCA diagnosis and treatment (e.g., side effects of treatment, quality of life, loss issues; possible genetic component). In addition, it guides clinicians in distinguising common symptoms that correspond to ovarian cancer treatment (e.g., chemotherapy-related fatigue) from symptoms related to mood disturbances (e.g., depression) and other psychological syndromes. Techniques and skills to facilitate patient adjustment (e.g. increase adaptive communication with medical team and other support members; practice of stress and pain management; utilization of support system) are presented for use within the OVCA cancer population.
1. American Cancer Society (2015). Cancer Facts & Figures.
http://www.cancer.org/research/cancerfactsstatistics/cancerfactsfigures2015/, accessed June 8, 2015.
2. Palmer, S.C., Kagee, A., Coyne, J.C., & DeMichele, A. (2004). Experience of trauma, distress, and posttraumatic stress disorder among breast cancer patients. Psychosomatic Medicine, 66(2), 258-264.
3. Golden-Kreutz, D.M., Thornton, L.M.; Wells-Di Gregorio, S., Frierson, G.M., Jim, H.S., Carpenter, K.M.. Shelby, R.A., & Andersen, B.L. (2005). Traumatic Stress, Perceived Global Stress, and Life Events: Prospectively Predicting Quality of Life in Breast Cancer Patients. Health Psychology, 24(3), 288-296.
4. Leventhal, H., Leventhal, E., & Contrada, R.J. (2000). Self-regulation, health, and behavior: A perceptual-cognitive approach. Psychology and Health, 13, 717-733.
5. Prochaska, J.O. (2003). Staging: a revolution in helping people change. Managed Care, 12(9), 6-9.
6. Kunkel, E.J., & Chen, E.I. (2003). Psychiatric aspects of women with breast cancer. Psychiatric Clinician of North America, 26(3), 713-724.
About HealthForumOnline:
HealthForumOnline (HFO) is approved as a provider of CE courses by the American Psychological Association, the National Board of Certified Counselors, and the Association of Social Work Boards. Health professionals can complete CE courses at their own pace, on their own schedule, anywhere they have Internet access – generating their own CE certificate.
Michelle Rodoletz, Ph.D., HealthForumOnline, http://www.healthforumonline.com, +1 (215) 887-6669, [email protected]
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