To mark 40 years of global collaborations, the ISNCC Virtual Symposium on Cancer Nursing was held from November 4 to 6, 2024. The aim was to connect fellow professionals with one another and foster collaborations that transcend borders. We hope that the oncology nurses who attended the symposiums obtained some actionable insights that they can use to make a difference in their own health care settings, from cancer prevention to end-of-life care.
Virtual Symposium Day 1
Opening Remarks:
The first day of the virtual symposium was kicked off by a warm welcome from Winnie So, President of ISNCC. Prof. So highlighted the importance of improving quality and supporting systems change in cancer nursing and stressed the need for a collaborative approach to addressing the challenges faced by cancer patients. She also introduced the meeting agenda and thanked the speakers.
Session 1.1: Panel Discussion on ISNCC – Forty Years Together: Nurses Addressing the Global Burden of Cancer Together
This panel session was moderated by Distinguished Prof. Patsy Yates and included ISNCC Past Presidents Connie Henke Yarbro, Margaret Fitch, Sanchia Aranda, Greta Cumming and Stella Aguinaga Bialous. They reflected on the nursing journey in cancer control over the past four decades. The aim of the discussion was to build on this history and look ahead to the future of cancer nursing. Participants learned about some of the most important achievements and milestones in cancer nursing and heard from past presidents of the ISNCC about the opportunities and challenges for the future of cancer nursing.
Session 1.2: Workshop – PROcision Care: Using Patient-Reported Outcomes to Personalize Care Delivery
Chaired by Prof. Darryl Somayaji, this session explored the growing trend of incorporating standardized, validated questionnaires into routine care to gather information directly from patients about their symptoms, functioning and well-being. The concept of PROcision Care, which involves the use of patient-reported outcomes (PROs) to inform patient care and management, was emphasized. The aim of the workshop was to build a foundation of knowledge about PROs in practice and to enhance nurses’ ability to use PRO data to guide clinical action, ultimately improving patient outcomes. Case studies were used to guide learning and discussion.
Session 1.3: Workshop – Building Capacity for Quality Improvement in Health Care Settings
The final workshop, “Building Capacity for Quality Improvement in Health Care Settings,” was chaired by Jo Visser, with speakers Joanne Burke-Bajaj, Neil Drimer and Sarah Olver. The session introduced participants to the basics of quality improvement, including understanding the improvement model and how to implement it. Participants learned how to identify problems, root causes and potential solutions, and how to test changes and measure improvement.
Session Close:
The first day of the virtual symposium was a great success. Nurses from all over the world were inspired by the achievements and practical experience of the experts in continuous quality improvement and systems change in cancer nursing.
Virtual Symposium Day 2
Opening Remarks:
Proceedings began with a warm welcome from Suzanne Bishaw, who set the tone for an informative and engaging second day. Suzanne Bishaw acknowledged the importance of the topic and emphasized the need to improve cancer treatment outcomes.
Workshop: Oncology Nurse Advocacy for Age-Friendly Cancer Care
In this workshop, Prof. Mei Krishnasamy addressed the challenges of ageism in cancer care and its negative impact on patient outcomes. She emphasized the need for effective communication with older patients and strategies to prevent elder abuse. The session highlighted the value of co-designing resources with patients and carers to create age-sensitive care.
Symposium: Enhancing Cervical Cancer Screening Equity – A Multilayered Approach
A session led by Prof. Winnie So and Prof. Dorothy Chan discussed strategies to promote equitable access to cervical cancer screening, with a particular focus on underserved communities. They presented topics such as multimedia interventions, the role of community health workers, and decision aids that empower individuals to make informed screening decisions.
Oral Presentation 1: Exploring the Decision-Making Process of Palliative Care among Male Caregivers
Prof. Cindy Wang presented research on the unique challenges faced by male carers in palliative care. Her presentation focused on the emotional and practical hurdles that male carers face in the palliative care decision-making process.
Oral Presentation 2: Early Palliative Care – Integrating an Innovative Nurse-Led Approach in Oncology
Prof. Stephanie Lelond presented a nurse-led model for integrating early palliative care into oncology services to improve patient support and quality of life. Her model demonstrated an innovative approach to improving the accessibility and effectiveness of palliative care through nursing leadership.
Symposium: Models of Patient-Led Survivorship Care
In this session, Makala Castelli shared examples of successful patient-led initiatives in survivorship care, highlighting models that empower survivors to take charge of their ongoing health care needs. She also illustrated how patient-led care can promote autonomy and resilience in survivorship.
Session Close:
The second day of the symposium focused on a global nursing approach to improving cancer care outcomes and provided valuable insights into improving cancer care through patient advocacy, age-sensitive practices, equitable screening initiatives and supportive palliative care models. This part of the study broadened the participants’ horizons and increased their knowledge and skills, which will play a positive role in promoting high-quality care in cancer nursing.
Virtual Symposium Day 3
Opening Remarks:
The third day of the symposium began with a warm welcome from Prof. Dorothy Chan, who set the tone for an informative and engaging day. Acknowledging the importance of the topic, Prof. Chan emphasized the need for a collaborative approach to addressing the burden of patients with advanced disease.
This day of the virtual symposium was chaired by Stavroule Chante and Marisa Durao Portela Lima.
Call for Action: Global Needs for Pediatric Palliative Care
Prof. Julia Downing discussed the definition and importance of pediatric palliative care, highlighting the prevalence of serious illness in children. She addressed the challenges facing the field and shared best practices, case studies and collaborative strategies for improvement. She also provided suggestions for raising awareness and educating others about pediatric palliative care and recommendations for national and international policies to strengthen its implementation.
Symposium: Oncology Nurse Advocacy for Equitable Cancer Care
Prof. Mei Krishnasamy from the University of Melbourne discussed how social determinants of health affect access to care and cancer outcomes, and highlighted cancer nurses’ advocacy for equitable care. This session will have enhanced participants’ understanding of these determinants and introduced the NEAT nursing equity tool for practice.
Symposium: Making the Most of the Contemporary Approaches to Education and Training in Palliative Care
Dr. Heather Richardson emphasized the importance of incorporating innovative, modern methods into palliative care education and training. Participants were thereby equipped with the skills to discover new learning opportunities, understand how technology can transfer knowledge and skills, identify potential partners for education and training efforts, and learn from the successes and challenges faced by palliative care education and training providers.
Symposium: Cancer Prevention Across Europe (PrEvCan), Key Learning Experiences and Impact
Dr. Lena Sharp explored the impact of health literacy, public health campaigns and cancer prevention strategies in various European subgroups. This session emphasized the vital role of cancer nurses in alleviating the burden of cancer and enhancing cancer prevention literacy. Participants gained insights into the importance of effectively communicating cancer prevention information to diverse populations.
Session Close
The third day of the symposium focused on a global nursing approach to cancer prevention and alleviating the burden of patients with advanced illness. It addressed several key topics, including the global need for pediatric palliative care, oncology nurse advocacy for equitable cancer care, effective use of contemporary education and training methods, and cancer prevention across Europe (PrEvCan). We hope that oncology nurses around the world were inspired by these lectures and were empowered to make a greater contribution to reducing the global burden of cancer!
A recording of the symposium is now available for all registered participants. Please access the following link
1. Direct link: isncc.org/2024-Symposium-On-Demand/ (login required)
2. Website Path: Go to RESOURCES → MY ISNCC → 2024 VIRTUAL SYMPOSIUM ON-DEMAND (login required to see item in menu).
Remarks: This on-demand access is exclusively for registered participants, so feel free to dive back into the content anytime.
