People with cancer and an intellectual disability: an international issue with local significance

Abstract

Introduction: The workshop "People with cancer and an intellectual disability: an international issue with local significance" took place in Edinburgh on February 22nd 2008. The workshop was organised by the Centre for the Older Person's Agenda, Queen Margaret University and the Cancer Care Research Centre, University of Stirling. The workshop aims were to engage in a sharing of knowledge and experience and through discussion to drive forward change by creating agendas for policy, practice and research. The objectives were to: 1. present a range of current perspectives on policy, practice and research in cancer care for people with intellectual disabilities; sharing international perspectives; 2. identify and explore key issues; 3. share current practice and research concerns based on practitioner and personal experiences of cancer care; 4. to identify what a community of researcher, policy makers and practitioners would look like; 5. develop practice and research agendas with action plans for taking such agendas forward. The programme for the day revolved around five presentations and two group discussions. See appendix 1 for a copy of the programme, appendix 2 for a list of delegates and appendix 3 for copies of the presentations. This report is organised according to the main themes that emerged from the presentations and discussion sessions. They are linked to the four objectives outlined above and the overall aim of developing an international and comparative understanding of these issues.