PoCoG Supported Studies:
Open to Recruitment 22-23

PoCoG-CDW-2019-06: HP-Prepare and ACT- A communication skills education program for health professionals to help people with head and neck cancer manage psychological distress.

Aim: This study proposes to examine the feasibility and acceptability of an advanced communication skills training for health professionals (HP), using the principles of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT).

Team: Chandrika Gibson, A/Prof Georgia Halkett, A/Prof Moira O'Connor.

PoCoG-2021-07: Implementation of a Clinician Intervention to Reduce Fear of Recurrence in Cancer Survivors (CIFeR_2 Implementation Study).

Aim: To determine the barriers and facilitators to routine implementation of an oncologist-delivered education and communication intervention during routine oncology clinic follow-up appointments, to address FCR in breast cancer patients.

Team: Jenny Liu, Jane Beith, Phyllis Butow, Joanne Shaw, Anastasia Serafimovska.

PoCoG-2021-03: Assessing the acceptability, feasibility and utility of a nurse led survivorship program for patients with metastatic melanoma who are long-term responders to immunotherapy or targeted therapy: a pilot study.

Aim: To co-design a survivorship program for people with metastatic melanoma who are long-term responders to immunotherapy or targeted therapy and to assess the acceptability, feasibility and utility of the survivorship program.

Team: Julia Lai-Kwon, Sarah Heynemann, Haryana Dhillon, Iris Bartula, Sarah Lane.

PoCoG-2021-04: Ticking off the Bucket List – Using Virtual Reality to improve quality of life in palliative care.

Aim: To assess the feasibility and acceptability of using VR in palliative care to increase patients' quality of life and wellbeing. More specifically, we aim to:

  • Establish the effects of multiple personalised VR sessions on quality of life, depression, distress, anxiety and pain measures in patients receiving palliative care

  • Determine the acceptability and usefulness of VR from patients, carers/families and hospital staff perspectives.

  • Identify potential barriers for a broader implementation (e.g., recruitment rate, ease of sourcing tailored content, technical problems).

Team: Amanda Hutchinson, Tobias Loetscher, Dimitrios Saredakis, Hannah Keage.