ECCO 2017 | Increasing collaboration between cancer patient organizations and hospitals – a case study

Patrick Miqueu, PhD, from the Jules Bordet Institute in Brussels, Belgium, describes a pilot project to improve the collaboration and communication between cancer patient organizations and hospitals, recorded at the European Cancer Congress of the European Cancer Organisation (ECCO) 2017 in Amsterdam, Netherlands. He describes how together with the European Cancer Patient Coalition (ECPC) and Organisation of European Cancer Institutes (OECI), the Jules Bordet Institute aims to develop a minimalist model of fostering collaboration which can be applied in different European countries with existing frameworks. The project focusses on the atmosphere in cancer centers, developing a model which will be of mutual interest to cancer patient organizations and cancer centers, and what may increase motivation for individuals to be interested in the project. Dr Miqueu gives an example of improving communication about clinical trials, taking into consideration the views of patients and relatives, and following a methodology of patient involvement from the beginning of the project. He describes how videos have been made in which the clinical trial investigator explains to patients why they are being asked to participate, as well as schematics and cartoons to make information more engaging and easier to understand.