Head and neck cancers (HNC) and treatment affect quality of life and predispose patients with HNC to mental health disorders (MHDs) (Lee et al., 2019). These patients have an increased risk of in-hospital medical, certain surgical, and total complications, as well as increased costs (Gao et al., 2021, Jeffery et al., 2019).
Addressing these mental health comorbidities in patients with HNC may reduce costs, improve resource efficiency, and better patient outcomes. However, few studies have measured the impact of interventions on those with HNC. We hypothesized that by screening for depression and anxiety using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) in surgical HNC patients, we could raise awareness of the mental health comorbidities in this population. We then aimed to connect those patients with psychiatric resources to aid them in improving their mental and, by proxy, physical well-being.
The submitted theme of “Advancing Interprofessional Care through Practice-Education Partners” will be addressed, as this project was created through the Vanderbilt Program of Interprofessional Learning. The project relied on the collaboration of a pharmacy student, a nursing student, and a medical student to generate the project idea, implement it in the head and neck cancer clinic, analyze the results, and draw conclusions for future interprofessional learning steps. In addition, these students consulted with surgeons, psychiatrists, nurse practitioners, and social workers to create the mental health resource and implement the project. Thus, the project is an excellent example of successful interprofessional collaboration.
This Lightning Talk will provide valuable knowledge to learners by exemplifying the power of interprofessional collaboration and how strengths from different areas of medicine can be brought together to achieve a common goal of health care. We will also describe our success in raising mental health awareness in a head and neck cancer clinic. Our work benefited patients by providing mental health resources not previously available in the clinic before our project.
In support of improving patient care, this activity is planned and implemented by The National Center for Interprofessional Practice and Education Office of Interprofessional Continuing Professional Development (National Center OICPD). The National Center OICPD is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.
As a Jointly Accredited Provider, the National Center is approved to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Organizations, not individual courses, are approved under this program. State and provincial regulatory boards have the final authority to determine whether an individual course may be accepted for continuing education credit. The National Center maintains responsibility for this course. Social workers completing this course receive continuing education credits.
The National Center OICPD (JA#: 4008105) is approved by the Board of Certification, Inc. to provide continuing education to Athletic Trainers (ATs).
This activity was planned by and for the healthcare team, and learners will receive Interprofessional Continuing Education (IPCE) credit for learning and change.
Physicians: The National Center for Interprofessional Practice and Education designates this live activity for AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Physicians should only claim credit commensurate with their participation.
Physician Assistants: The American Academy of Physician Assistants (AAPA) accepts credit from organizations accredited by the ACCME.
Nurses: Participants will be awarded contact hours of credit for attendance at this workshop.
Nurse Practitioners: The American Academy of Nurse Practitioners Certification Program (AANPCP) accepts credit from organizations accredited by the ACCME and ANCC.
Pharmacists and Pharmacy Technicians: This activity is approved for contact hours.
Athletic Trainers: This program is eligible for Category A hours/CEUs. ATs should claim only those hours actually spent in the educational program.
Social Workers: As a Jointly Accredited Organization, the National Center is approved to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Organizations, not individual courses, are approved under this program. State and provincial regulatory boards have the final authority to determine whether an individual course may be accepted for continuing education credit. The National Center maintains responsibility for this course. Social workers completing this course receive continuing education credits.
IPCE: This activity was planned by and for the healthcare team, and learners will receive Interprofessional Continuing Education (IPCE) credits for learning and change.
Learners can claim CE credit by completing the Daily Evaluation.
