Research funded by RPF "Cancer in Cyprus and its Psychosocial Aspects"
The project is based on questionnaires administered to people suffering with cancer and use the services of the Oncology Center in Nicosia.
Funding Organisation: Cyprus Research Promotion Foundation
Host Organisation: RUBSI
- Project Coordinator: Dr Constantinos Phellas, sociologist
- Research Team: Dr Costas Constantinou, sociologist / medical anthropologist and Christina Loizou, sociologist
Partners:
1. Oncology Center
- Dr Alecos Stamatis, General Director
2. CARI - Cyprus Academic Research Intitute
Dr Maria Karekla, Clinical Psychologist
3. Independent Researcher
- Dr Eleni Tolma, Helath promotion specialist, University of Oklahoma USA
The project has started in January 2009 and is expected to be completed in December 2010
Summary of the project
Themodernization of the Cypriot Society and the increasing needs of thecitizens render as necessary the understanding of the experiences andthe needs of the people with chronic diseases, such as cancer.According to the Partners, in Cyprus there are around 15,000 peopleliving with cancer while at the same time the percentage is increasing.Cancer is the second cause of death in Cypriot society (Bank of CyprusOncology Center). The partners recognize that, although we know a lotabout the medical and biological aspect of cancer, we know very littleon its psycho-social aspect, which is directly associated to thequality of life of the patients and to the course of treatment. Forthis reason, the scientific investigation of cancer by the socialsciences becomes imperative.
This study aims at the following:
a) To constitute the social part of a wider picture of cancer
b)To comprehend and evaluate the needs of people with cancer, in anattempt to improve their living conditions and to enrich the counselingservices of the Oncology Center and
c) Through the disseminationof the results, the partners should intervene with concrete policymeasures, which will result, to a large degree, from this researchproject, intending to the decrease of social exclusion, thesatisfaction of the needs of people with cancer, their socialinclusion, the raising of the public awareness and the training of themedical and paramedical staff.
These aims will be met through the scientific study of people who suffer from the following types of cancer:
1) Lung, 2) prostate, 3) breast, 4) Colon cancer 5) Lymphoma.
Thisparticular categorization will help the researchers understand betterthe needs that result from the different stages, experiences andframeworks of treatment.
The study will use both quantitative and qualitative research methods for a more thorough investigation of the issue:
a) Pilot interviews with people from the above categories
b) Closed questionnaire administered to people who are already at an advanced stage of the disease and
c)Postal questionnaires to 2000 people from the above categories (400from each cancer type) and whose illness is not yet advanced
Throughthe triangulation of the results of these three different researchmethods we expect to indicate the increasing needs of the people withcancer, elements of social exclusion and the need to implement moreeffective counseling practices and policies of pycho-social support andsocial re-inclusion.
21st May. 2010