AOSW recognizes the importance of research, and our Annual Conference provides an opportunity for members to learn about the latest developments in oncology social work research. Here are some of the highlights presented at the 2015 Annual Conference in Seattle, Washington.*

The majority of the research presentations fell into three main categories:

1. Describing our patients, clients, families or institutions;
2. Interventions, much of it focusing on the various steps of evidence-based practice (Oktay, 2015), and
3. How to use research results to further oncology social work’s position in the institution.

*Copies of Speaker Handouts from the 2015 Annual Conference are available. Email Jordan Burghardt at AOSW Headquarters to request copies.  

Describing Our Patients, Clients, Families or Institutions
On Thursday, a wonderful panel of researchers shared their work on sexual health problems and prostate and bladder cancers at a luncheon sponsored by Onyx/Amgen. This is an example of research on client populations. Oncology social work, as well as other health professions has sometimes overlooked sexuality. Three research teams used their results to show the importance of post-treatment sexual functioning. Oncology social workers can use these research results to better understand the needs of clients and to develop targeted sexual health interventions.
    
Interventions—Not surprisingly, the conference included many research presentations on interventions. One of these involved a “randomized clinical trial,” the gold standard of intervention research. Three members from Canada shared their experience participating in the clinical trial of an intervention that provides psychotherapy to metastatic cancer patients. This intervention, Managing Cancer and Living Meaningfully (CALM), was developed at the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre in Toronto. It involves 3-6 individual sessions, over 6 months. The social workers were specially trained in this manualized therapy. This presentation provided an example of how social workers can participate in the development and testing of interventions.
    
Research Results—Other presentations in Seattle focused on how social workers incorporated evidence-based practices into their oncology practices, and shared the process of adapting these interventions to their settings and patient populations. Examples included a paper on Screening, Brief Intervention and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT), one on an advanced care planning intervention called Honoring your Wishes. Other papers focused on the process of developing interventions or exploring the impact of interventions. This type of research is essential to quality oncology social work practice, where the need to demonstrate effectiveness is critical.

Finally, some research presentations emphasized how oncology social workers can use research results to advance the oncology social work profession. Two excellent examples focused on distress screening. In one, the presenter showed how her center used distress screening results in three different settings to justify new programs and to expand oncology social work services. In another session, the researchers shared the early results of A Project to Assure Quality Cancer Care, “APAQCC,” and helped session attendees use these results to enhance change at their institutions.
    
These are just a few of the excellent research presentations from the conference. By being familiar with current research in oncology social work, we can enhance practice and ensure that our patients are receiving top quality care.

Reference
Oktay, J. (2015). Integrating research and evidence-based practice with clinical knowledge. In G. Christ, C. Messner & L. Behar (Eds.), Handbook of oncology social work: Psychosocial care for people with cancer (pp. 15-19). New York: Oxford University Press.