AOSW Connections

For years there has been a debate between practitioners and researchers about the value of practice wisdom versus research-based knowledge in informing practice decisions. But this is a false dichotomy. Both types of knowledge are needed for evidence-based practice. Yet, journal editors tend to publish only data-based studies that meet high standards of research, including rigorous research designs, valid and reliable measures, and sophisticated statistical analyses. Often the implications of the study's findings are an afterthought.

John looked at me quizzically. “I'd never really thought about it,” he said, “But I think I'd like music during the procedure.”

During my first few months as editor of the Journal of Psychosocial Oncology (JPO), I have received manuscripts from a variety of countries around the world. This is likely a reflection of the increasing incidence in cancer and cancer deaths across nations.

I Still Think of You is a short exploration of what it means to be a fellow traveler at critical junctures in our patients lives, and how these moments leave everlasting impressions on the work we do and the people we become.

Research has consistently demonstrated an increased prevalence of depression among oncology patients. Despite this well-established fact, depression continues to be underdiagnosed within this population. Some attribute this to the overlap between the symptomatology of depression and that of cancer (e.g., sleep disturbance, fatigue, and decreased appetite). Others attribute it to the healthcare team’s tendency to prioritize somatic symptoms over psychiatric ones, especially in more medically complex cases.