Clinical Intervention in Oncology Social Work

Course overview

Oncology social work has been a specialty within medical social work for over 40 years. Several historical events led to its recognition as a distinct profession, including the establishment of hospitals and cancer centers, and the integration of the social perspective of patients' lives into their medical care by hospital social workers. As interest in the psychological, emotional, and social aspects of a cancer diagnosis increased in the 1970s, medical social workers became specialized in cancer care, and professional psychosocial oncology groups began to form. In 1984, the Association of Oncology Social Workers (AOSW) was established to enhance psychosocial services for people with cancer and their families and caregivers. Today, oncology social work is the primary professional discipline that provides psychosocial services to patients, families, and significant others facing the impact of a potential or actual diagnosis of cancer. AOSW's Standards of Practice state that oncology social workers provide psychosocial services through clinical practice, including screening, assessment, and intervention, across all phases of the cancer experience. After a psychosocial evaluation is completed, one aspect of clinical practice is developing a multidisciplinary care plan that uses a range of interventions to address issues at each phase of the illness. This course will review some of the core competencies of clinical intervention in oncology social work, including applying theories to practice, providing supportive care for adjustment to illness, and facilitating communication with patients, families, and healthcare team members. This course expands on the first two Oncology Social Work Practice courses titled "Assessing Psychosocial Needs in Oncology" and "Clinical Assessment in Oncology Social Work."