Grant: Dissemination Events

We are requesting funding for a series of knowledge dissemination activities focusing on the integration of mindfulness in cancer care to be offered as one stream of the 27th annual meeting of the Canadian Association of Psychosocial Oncology (CAPO). The conference will be held April 24 to April 26, 2013 at the Marriott Ottawa Hotel, in Ottawa, Ontario. We anticipate a total of 250 participants from across all Canadian provinces and territories to attend the conference, with 50 to 250 participants attending each of the different activities planned as part of the mindfulness stream. The audience will consist mostly of health care professionals, but also researchers, patients, and decision-makers. Four speakers, including internationally renowned Drs. Linda Carlson, Michael Speca, and Patricia Dobkin, have already agreed to present lectures and workshops focusing on mindfulness-based interventions. The overall mindfulness stream will offer participants a balance of theoretical presentations, research presentations, and skills-based workshops. Participants completing the proposed curriculum will acquire knowledge and skills to begin integrating mindfulness into their work, and we anticipate that some will seek out additional training to build on this foundation. We expect that this will have a positive impact on patient care in Canada.