Creativity, Optimism, Planning, and Expert Advise (COPE): A Problem-Solving Intervention for Supporting Cancer Patients and Their Family Caregivers

Abstract

Creativity, Optimism, Planning, and Expert Advise (COPE) is a psycho-educational intervention designed to teach cancer patients and family caregivers problem-solving skills to help manage symptoms and other concerns. It focuses on using creativity (viewing problems as challenges that can be overcome), optimism (focusing on the positive, yet being realistic), planning (developing a sound plan to address problems), and expert information (finding and learning from trustworthy sources) to overcome problems. Research on COPE has found the intervention effective in improving caregiver quality of life, caregiver burden, and patient symptom distress. Teaching family caregivers and patients the information contained in the COPE intervention may help improve patient symptoms and caregiver quality of life. Future research should explore new methods to deliver COPE to a wider audience, and ways to individualize the content to meet specific needs of the individual, in real-time. This chapter will present a fictional case family and apply the COPE intervention to address their concerns.