INSTITUTE OF MEDICINE REPORT: CANCER CARE FOR THE WHOLE PATIENT

The Institute of Medicine (IOM) released a report in late 2007 advocating increased attention to the psychosocial aspects of cancer care throughout the U.S. healthcare system. The report found that though cancer care today often provides state-of-the-science biomedical treatment, it fails to address the psychological and social (psychosocial) problems associated with the illness. These problems including patients’ lack of information or skills needed to manage the illness; anxiety, depression or other emotional problems; lack of transportation or other resources; and disruptions in work, school, and family life can cause additional suffering, weaken adherence to prescribed treatments, and threaten patients’ return to health. Further, all patients with cancer and their families should expect and receive cancer care that ensures the provision of appropriate psychosocial health services. The report makes recommendations to improve service delivery and includes and extensive resource list. The entire report is available to read online at the IOM website (http://books.nap.edu/catalog.php?record_id=11993#toc) and individual chapters are available for download for a nominal fee. The resource list is included in chapter 3 which can be downloaded at http://www.iom.edu/Object.File/Master/47/604/Whole%20Cancer%20Resource%20List%20and%20Role%20Models.pdf and attached.

-Adapted from: “Cancer Care for the Whole Patient: Meeting Psychosocial Health Needs”, The Institute of Medicine. Released on October 23, 2007; retrieved from: http://www.iom.edu/CMS/3809/34252/47228.aspx.

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