RESEARCH THROUGH THE METIS COLLABORATION:
The Scot-PAIS Project

The Scot-PAIS research project, led by Dr Sara MacLennan, is focused on the development of a new system for providing practical evidence-based information and advice on working life to those who have been diagnosed with urological cancer in the NE Scotland. The theoretical framework for this research is provided by the Adaptation – Accommodation Paradigm developed and being published by Cox, MacLennan & N’Dow (see Blog below).

The project is part of the Programme of Work of the METIS Collaboration hosted by the Academic Urology Unit, University of Aberdeen, is funded by Macmillan in Scotland working with UCAN (the Aberdeen -based cancer charity). It is being supported by a wide range of professional bodies, health service institutions, including NHS Grampian, and both private and public sector bodies. The research team would like to thank all of those who have enthusiastically given their support to this work.

Good progress is being made. The necessary harvesting of expert information should the launched towards the end of December. The first stages of this Internet-based Delphi exercise are planned to continue into February and March 2014. This exercise is about perceived information needs and the effective delivery of appropriate information and advice over the patient journey. It involves three of the main stake holder groups: patients and their families, health care professionals and employing organizations. The research team believe that it is particularly important to give a voice to all three groups and to reconcile their different perspectives in a realistic and practical way. The Final Report to Macmillan in Scotland and to UCAN is planned for the end of 2014.

Information on Scot-PAIS has been published on the web-sites of other organizations concerned with cancer survivorship. There are short articles describing the research on the Vocational Rehabilitation Association UK website at http://www.vra-uk.org/node/353 and on the Action on Bladder Cancer website at: http://www.actiononbladdercancer.org/newsitem.php?newsid=213%2FCancer-Survivorship-The-Patient-Journey-Work-Working-Life-Building-an-Advice-Information-System-for-Patients-in-Scotland-Scot-PAIS .

Those who are interested in supporting this project should contact Sarah Scott at: sarah.scott@abdn.ac.uk or Tom Cox at: t.cox@bbk.ac.uk. _____________________________________________________________