The Shock-Diagnoses Video Projects

A Patient-Focused Education Program

Background

This series of interactive videos is designed to improve physician and patient communication during the critical first phase after a patient receives "bad news" from their physicians.

The Videos

The videos help patients to ease their initial shock at learning their diagnosis, and to hear and review basic information about treatment and coping strategies at their own pace while at home with their families. Patients are reassured and encouraged to become involved in their own treatment at its earliest stages. The program gives and reinforces critical information and empowers patients to ask questions, identify authoritative sources of information, and to take a powerful role in their health care.

Awards

"Now That You Have Cancer," the first video in the Center's series, won a silver medal in the 39th Worldfest-Houston Film Festival in April 2006. With more than 4,500 entries, the festival is one of the largest film and video competitions in the world.

The video was the winning documentary in the 2005 Texas Film Fest.