Cancer patients often feel that they are not coping well enough with their disease. An app from the UMCG should teach them to be a little nicer to themselves.
Compas-Y is the name of the app that the UMCG has developed in recent years together with colleagues in Twente, in collaboration with patients and oncological nurses. “Self-compassion is a concept that is booming in healthcare,” says associate professor Maya Schroevers (medical psychology) at the UMCG.
Make mistakes
Such an app did not yet exist for cancer patients, while according to Schroevers it is precisely this patient group that needs it. “It does not apply to everyone, but we see that many cancer patients feel that they are not dealing with their disease well enough. That they think they should live a healthier life and that they are making mistakes in their family and at work,” says Schroevers. “Those kinds of thoughts consume energy and you can’t have that when you are sick.”
Exercises
In six modules, the patient learns about his disease and everything related to it in the app. “But it is mainly intended to let people be a little nicer to themselves.” Depending on how they feel, users are offered articles or exercises. Schroevers expects the app to be available in the App Store soon.
