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President's Report 2001

President’s report from the International Cancer Information Service Group,
3rd Global Conference for Cancer Organisations, 24-27 June 2001, Brighton, UK
Doreen Akkerman - President

The International Cancer Information Service Group (ICISG) was very well represented at the 3rd Global Conference in Brighton. The Group was involved in planning and developing several parts of the program.

ICISG developed a symposium and two workshops and held the business meeting at which the presidency was passed on to Catherine Dickens, Head Cancer Information Services, Macmillan Cancer Relief. An election of officers and members of the Consultative Committee was held and Anne Vezina, National Director CIS, Canadian Cancer Society was elected Vice-President.

The following members of the Consultative Committee were elected:
Doreen Akkerman, Australia
Claudia Di Loreto, Italy
Richard Epstein, Singapore
Cora Honing, The Netherlands
Marion Morra, USA
Monika Preszly, Germany
Hilke Stamatiadis-Smidt, Germany
Chris Thomsen, USA
Anne Vinkel, Denmark

The minutes of the business meeting and papers presented are available here.

Meeting Information Needs Symposium.
Doreen Akkerman, President, chaired the symposium at which 4 founding members of ICIS presented the following papers:

• Chris Thomsen, Director CIS, NCI, USA, presented
  Using the Model of a High Performing Organisation to Evaluate and Plan a Quality Program
• Anne Vinkel, Manager, CIS, Danish Cancer Society, presented
  Combining Telephone and Internet Counselling at a Cancer Helpline
• Anne Vezina, National Director, CIS, Canadian Cancer Society, presented
  Maintaining Continuous Quality Improvement, Quality Assurance and Reporting on Results for a Cancer Helpline
• Monika Prezley, Manager CIS Krebsinformationdienst, Heidelberg, presented
  Using a Modular and Mixed Media Approach for Cancer Information and Communication Tailored to Specific Target Groups.

Two workshops presenting information and skill sharing with regard to the development and maintenance of a Cancer Information Service were held.

One facilitated by Doreen Akkerman and Anne Vezina, discussed "Developing Elements of a Quality Patient Information Service". Both facilitators demonstrated their computerised databases which are used not only to record details of each contact, but to assist the Cancer Information Service

Specialist to access information regarding specific types of cancer and treatment and resources in order to refer callers to the appropriate service. They also stressed the importance of oncology qualifications and ongoing training and support for Cancer Information Service Specialists.

The other, facilitated by Catherine Dickens and Chris Thomsen discussed New Media in Cancer Information Service for experienced cancer information service providers. They discussed the influence and impact of new media technology on how we provide and may provide information in the future. The use of the internet for the provision of cancer counselling was demonstrated. Increased operational and budget demands were discussed to alert providers to these important issues.

It was good to network with people from different countries and realise the diverse cultural differences and the need to provide cancer information in an appropriate manner. Many people from developing countries were at the conference and the opportunities for interaction and skill sharing was excellent.

It validated the need for international standards for those services which provide cancer information. It also highlighted the importance of exchange of information and resources between services.

Catherine and Anne will work with UICC to further develop our association and to assist with planning the Cancer Information Service provision and training for the next Global conference.

See you all there!!!!!
November 2001

Last Updated: 8 January 2008