Welcome to the Cancer Pain and Symptom Management Nursing Research Group's web site.

The Cancer Pain & Symptom Management Nursing Research Group (CPSMNRG) — part of the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC) College of Nursing — is an innovative, productive group of scientists and researchers focused on the generation and dissemination of knowledge related to the pain and other symptoms experienced by people living with cancer and by people facing the end-of-life transition.

	What's New About Cancer Caregiving - Press Release, December 12, 2002 Dr. Diana J. Wilkie Joins Rosalynn Carter Institute’s Expert Panel on Caregiving for Individuals with Cancer Americus, Ga. -- The Rosalynn Carter Institute for Human Development, as part of the newly established Johnson & Johnson/Rosalynn Carter Institute Caregivers Program, recently gathered an advisory panel of national experts to address caregiving challenges. Diana J. Wilkie, PhD, RN, FAAN, Professor at the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC) College of Nursing, was asked to join the “Caregiving for Individuals with Cancer” panel that convened at The Carter Presidential Center in Atlanta. Wilkie was one of thirteen experts representing Cancer caregiving issues--including dealing with emotional challenges, the economics of caregiving, and national and state caregiving initiatives--who shared insights. Dr. Diana Wilkie has been a pain specialist since 1984. She earned her AD in nursing from the University of Hawaii, BSN from Mesa College in Colorado, and Master of Science and Ph.D. in nursing from the University of California at San Francisco. She co-developed and coordinated the first Cancer Pain Management Program in San Francisco. This program provided inpatient, outpatient, and home care to patients with severe cancer pain. She has published extensively about pain and findings from her research program on pain. Currently she is conducting three randomized clinical trials testing the effects of massage and effects of computerized pain and symptom assessment tools on clinical outcomes. The long-term goal of her research is to help clinicians effectively combine pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic therapies for acute, chronic, and cancer pain management. She lectures extensively on pain assessment and management topics such as new information available for safe, effective use of analgesics and end-of-life care. She recently led a team of experts in the development of a CD-ROM to teach end-of-life concepts. Additional panels are convening to address a range of other caregiving issues. A new caregiving book series will be developed by the RCI following the panels. The Rosalynn Carter Institute for Human Development was formed in honor of Mrs. Carter in 1987 at Georgia Southwestern State University. Through research, education and training, the RCI promotes the mental health and well-being of individuals, families and professional caregivers; encourages effective caregiving practices; builds public awareness of caregiving needs; and advances public and social policies that enhance caring communities. Dr. Wilkie joins national experts on panel for "Caregiving for Individuals with Cancer." A lighter moment at The Carter Presidential Center in Atlanta, GA. Leading caregivers gather for a photo with former First Lady and philanthropist Rosalynn Carter (front, center).
	What's New: TNEEL-NE Version 1.0 Launches! TNEEL: Toolkit for Nurturing Excellence at End-of-Life Transistion Most current nursing education programs do not include sufficient preparation for end-of-life care, and both faculty and practicing nurses face constraints such as time and resources in accessing the data they need. One solution to this problem is to distribute information from experts in the end-of-life field via the web or other computer-based technology. TNEEL-NE Version 1.0 is an easy-to-access, learner-friendly package of tools for palliative care education that is Windows 95/98/2000 or NT-compatible. TNEEL-NE Version 1.0 is delivered on a CD ROM and includes audio, video, graphics, PowerPoint presentations, photographs and animations of individuals and families experiencing end-of-life transitions. Educators in academic and clinical settings can use the CD ROM's content as-packaged, or they may customize and save much of it for use in their own classrooms. Later this year, TNEEL-SS will launch as an internet-based self-study for practicing nurses. The self-study program also will be packaged in self-study modules to enhance application of palliative care concepts. Learn More     TNEEL Demo     Order TNEEL