1st Train The Trainer's Workshop
The first ‘Training of Trainers’ Workshop took place on 29/4/09 at Eastin Hotel. The objective of this workshop was to develop communication and mentoring skills of our would be EMPOWERED! trainers. 50 trainers from ministry hospitals (12 states), NGOs and community participated in this first of its kind workshop.
This is the first workshop conducted under
EMPOWERED! Friend programme. The aim was to
provide training to the less experienced members in
the areas of communication skills and support group
facilitating skills, so that they can become effective
communicators with the cancer survivor community
and caregivers. Trained members will become
mentors for the less experienced members who join
the programme in the future.
44 participants from various governmental and nongovernmental
healthcare organizations in Malaysia
attended the workshops.
We thank Bayer-Schering Sdn Bhd for sponsoring
this workshop that has benefited participants with
fresh approaches and enhanced knowledge in
managing a cancer patient or caregiver.
Highlights of the workshop
Workshop 1: Mentoring New ‘Friends’ conducted
by Brother Dominic Yeo Koh
- Participants learnt the concept of mentoring,
which can be applied in counselling a
cancer friend or mentoring a new
EMPOWERED! Friend. - A good mentor should possess qualities
such as; being patient, willing to listen, and
being positive about the negative reactions
towards his or her work. A good mentor
also continuously updates his or her own
knowledge in this area of services.
Workshop 2: Debriefing – Psychological
Debriefing (PD) conducted by Brother Dominic
Yeo Koh
- PD is basically a short and brief approach to
help people deal with very intense emotional
experience and stress after going through
an abnormal event in life. The purpose of
PD is to prevent onset of more long-term
psychological problem, e.g. post-traumatic
stress disorder. - Some individuals are unable to cope with
abnormal stress and a formal debriefing,
which consists of seven phases, is important
because it allows traumatised individual to
review his or her experience, acknowledge
and express his or her emotions openly, and
gain insights from the event with the help
and support of the group member. - Focus of a debriefing session is on the
feelings of the participant, rather than facts
of the incident. The ability to sense the
feelings and emotions of the person who is talking can be developed by sharpening
listing skills through practice.
Workshop 3: Communications Skills conducted
by Professor Ian Olver
- Poor treatment compliance and
dissatisfaction with caregivers are often due
to poor communication, which may cause
patients to experience increased anxiety,
depression and anger. Good
communication encourages patients to
express their concerns and ask questions
freely. - Some techniques to use when interacting
with patients are:
o Ask open-ended questions
o Use simple and clear language
without jargon
o Respect patient’s silence and give
them space and time to think before
they express their concerns
o Anger management - must be
managed appropriately before
effective communication can take
place. - A role-play session took place to
demonstrate a scenario of dealing with an
angry relative of a cancer patient.
Workshop 4: Facilitating a Group conducted by
Professor Ian Olver
A facilitator is usually someone with experience of
cancer as a patient or carer.
As a facilitator, one should: - Balance own experiences with needs of the
group to deliver appropriate and relevant
messages. - Plan agenda carefully, allocating time for
business and a break. - Have empathy.
- Be aware of cross-cultural or religious
differences. - Not force members to participate
- Give equal support to all members in the
group. - Constantly review what he or she does and
continue to learn to improve skills required
to facilitate a support group effectively.
Workshop 5: Sharing Grief and Bereavement
with Cancer Friends conducted by Dr Rachel
Ting and Reena Rao - There are five stages of grief, which are
denial, anger, bargaining, depression and
acceptance. - A counsellor to cancer patients should know
which stage patients are at, and continue toprovide support, until they are ready to move on. - A role-play session took place to
demonstrate how to share grief with a
cancer patient.
Presenters were:
- Dr Rachel Ting Sing-Kiat, Clinical
Psychologist & Senior Lecturer, HELP
University College, Kuala Lumpur - Professor Ian Olver CEO, Cancer Council
Australia - Brother Dominic Yeo Koh Tuan Kiok,
Director, Monfort Centre, Singapore - Ms Reena Rao, Post-graduate, Clinical
Psychology Program, HELP UniversityCollege
Ideas gathered from participants will be used to form the basis of a training manual for EMPOWERED! Friend’s programme and future workshops. Another Train the Trainers’ camp will be organised in 2011.
Photos
