Ekaterine Sanikidze, Director at Tbilisi Cancer Center, Georgian Patients’ Union Adviser, presentation at the Second International Scientific and Practical Conference «Improving the quality of life of cancer patients through the development of cooperation between state, commercial and non-profit organizations». 2018-01-24, Minsk. Belarus.

1. CHALLENGES AND PERSPECTIVES OF
DEVELOPMENT OF PSYCHO- ONCOLOGY IN
GEORGIA AND EASTERN EUROPE
P R O F . S A N I K I D Z E , E K A T E R I N E , M D , P H D
G E O R G I A N P A T I E N T S ’ U N I O N - O N C O L O G Y
G R O U P

2. PSYCHO-ONCOLOGY IN THE MODERN WORLD
In most of oncology clinics or at the oncological patients’ societies of
USA and West Europe countries :
Exists psychological support of oncological patients
Psychological status assessment/screening is implemented
POS –s at country, regional, international level (IPOS)are founded
Protocols /guides in the field of PO are elaborated and implemented
Special education and literary is provided
Psycho-oncology in the countries of EE and CA is not developed yet or is
newly established and needs to be developed

3. MAIN CHALLENGES
Lack of importance of PO in the oncological
clinics, cancer care programs and strategies
Lack of PO departments, specialists, chairs,
standards
Lack or absence of Psychological status
assessment/screening in most of clinics
Lack of funds for providing PO services

4. STUDY
As there is no particular psycho-oncology direction or special
department at any oncology clinic of Georgia, Psychological
status assessment and correction study was designed and
conducted.
In the frames of projects of “Georgian Patients’ Union” and
“Rights to Health Association” oncology patients’ needs
assessment were done.
Research show, that beside of various medical, managerial,
informational, social, financial problems, psychological barriers
on the way of oncology case management is crucial.

5. Design: After a short Questioning, PSt of
patients/family members were assessed and
relevant types of support were offered.
Results assessment and analysis of
participant’s interviews and behavior via
qualitative and quantitative methods were
done.
Participants: 195 patients and 45 family
members. I

6. TESTS AND REFERENCES
Tests:
Atkins- Psychometric test.
Luscher color test.
Eysenck Personality test.
BussDurkey Inventory.
1. Holland JC. Psychological Care of Patients: Psycho-Oncology’s Contribution. J Clin Oncol.
2003;21(90230):253s-265. 2. Institute of Medicine. (2008). Cancer Care for the Whole Patient:
Meeting psychosocial health needs. In N. E. Adler & A. E. K. Page (Eds.). Washington, DC:
Institution of Medicine. 3. Jacobsen PB, Donovan KA, Trask PC, et al. Screening for psychologic
distress in ambulatory cancer patients. Cancer. 2005;103(7):1494-1502. 4. National
Comprehensive Cancer Network. (2009). Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology, Distress
Management. 1. Available at: www.nccn. org. Last accessed May 2013. 5. Deshields TL, Nanna
SK. Providing care for the “whole patient” in the cancer setting: The psycho-oncology
consultation model of patient care. J Clin Psychol in Med Setting. 2010; 17:249-257. etc..

7. OBJECTIVES AND RESULTS
To explore psychological status (PSt)
Provision of relevant psychological
support (PS) of oncology patients at
various stages of their pathway from
symptoms appearance to cure

8. RESULTS AND INTERPRETATION:
Fair in 30% - 70%,
Anxiety in 25% - 45%,
Depression in 10% - 30%,
Phobias in 10% - 20%,
Apathy in 15% - 28% were defined in total.
Combating stress/fair with regards of diagnosis and before surgery
appeared in 85-85%,
during chemotherapy- in 98%,
after surgery and chemo/radiotherapy- in 66%.
Comparison of results of behavior between patients with and without PS
showed that correct decisions increased by 50% in general.

9. ADDITIONAL PSYCHOLOGICAL SUPPORT ACTIVITIES
famous persons
focus groups’ meetings
art therapy
cultural events etc.

10. CONCLUSIONS
Nowadays Psycho-oncology as a separate direction of Medical psychology or department
at oncology clinics does not exist in the country of Georgia
Education of psychologists in the field of Psycho-oncology and creation of separate
chair/module to develop PO direction is important step on this way.
Elaboration and implementation of guides/protocols in the field of PO is obligatory for
standardized and effective PS of oncological patients
Provision of psychological support of oncology patients is obligatory to improve treatment
adherence and outcomes results.
Preliminary study about various institutions in this field proves importance of creation
European Psycho-oncology Society(EPOS) to share experience and develop this
direction in East European and Central Asian countries via support of West European
PO Departments/Institutions .

11. EPOS-STEPS
Definition of aims and objectives, strategy and action
plans
Definition of funding sources
Definition of founders and members
Registration of EPOS
Collaboration with IPOS and membership
Conducting of activities, studies, analyzing results and
defining advocacy, communication and social
mobilization actions to promote PO direction

12. THANK YOU FOR ATTENTION!
Let s join our efforts to fight cancer
via strengthening of psycho-social
support of oncological patients in our
countries