Pilot Course – Providing Initial Information to Cancer Patients

“An Encounter That Changed My Life – Providing Initial Information to Cancer Patients through Multidisciplinary Collaboration”

A multidisciplinary pilot course was conducted in May 2021 in collaboration with Laurea University of Applied Sciences, the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Helsinki, HUS Comprehensive Cancer Center, and FICAN South. The course was attended by both nursing and medical students. It consisted of lectures by medical experts, patient experience experts, and third-sector specialists, online studies, and simulation training. The course content included the theory and practices of providing good initial information. In the simulation training, students practiced effectively communicating with patients and their families during initial information sessions, as well as recognizing their own communication skills and resources.

Students gained confidence in patient interactions and practical tools for providing initial information. The training emphasized the importance of multidisciplinary collaboration and increased understanding between different professional groups. The multidisciplinary approach enhances competence and enables a positive patient experience.

The course was approved as an elective in both the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Helsinki and the Laurea University of Applied Sciences programs in 2022. Providing initial information is significant for patients, and training in this area is valuable. The course will continue to be offered as a joint multidisciplinary study at Laurea and the University of Helsinki.