Symptom Navi provides guidance on dealing with symptoms and consequences of cancer during and after treatment. Our vision is to support all cancer patients in Switzerland, regardless of their place of residence, place of treatment or socio-cultural context
We understand self-management to mean everything that people do to cope with a chronic or long-term illness. Professionals can promote self-management by cultivating a partnership with those affected and accompanying them on their personal journey as coaches.
The Symptom Navi programme offers three tools for this purpose:
The Symptom Navi leaflets (flyers) can be used in paper form or digitally via the login area of the website. The use and application of the contents of the flyer set are subject to a fee. Ask your treating institution (practice, outpatient clinic, hospital) about access options.
Educational discussions for distributing the flyers and promoting self-management are systematic and theory-based. The educational discussions are based on the principles of patient education (Lorig, 2001) and are structured according to the 5 A's (Assess, Advise, Agree, Assist, Arrange) according to Lawn & Schoo (2010).
On-site training courses for treatment teams to promote self-management can be booked with the VFSM. Alternatively, further training courses to promote self-management with the Symptom Navi programme are organised by Oncology Nursing Switzerland.
The translations of all Symptom Navi leaflets into English were made possible by dedicated volunteers from Cancer Support Switzerland. We would like to thank them from the bottom of our hearts for their generous support!
The expert group includes cancer patients and various specialists such as nursing professionals, doctors working in oncology, pharmacists and delegates from the Swiss Cancer League. This multi-professional group reviews new developments and updates to flyers.
Further information on the expert group can be found on the "About us" subpage. Click on the "Expert group" button.
To update the flyers, we conduct literature research and adapt the evidence-based recommendations in line with new findings. New flyers are developed as needed. The multi-professional expert group accompanies and validates all updates and developments of new flyers.
If a company or foundation sponsors the development or updating of a flyer, we can make it publicly available for one year.
Click on the years to read about the milestones of the Symptom Navi programme.