The GAEA Survey Collaborating Organisations

Background Information

The GAEA Initiative is a collaboration between the European School of Oncology (ESO), the European Oncology Nursing Society (EONS) and Novartis Oncology.

Europa Donna (ED) - the European Breast Cancer Coalition - is acting as the patient advocacy resource for the project.

The GAEA Initiative is coordinated by a Steering Committee and each collaborating organisation is represented on this committee by one person. The Steering Committee is responsible for agreeing the aims, scope and methodology of the survey – the main element of the initiative; identifying the topics covered in the questionnaire; interpreting the survey findings to interested parties (patients, patients’ groups, physicians, nurses and the public) and deciding how these findings should be communicated to a wider audience.

A GAEA Initiative project charter outlines the role and responsibility of each of each organisation.

European School of Oncology (ESO)

ESO is acting as a medical resource for the GAEA survey. ESO’s Director, Dr Alberto Costa (Italy), represents the School on the GAEA Steering Committee.

Established in 1982, ESO is the oldest non-profit organisation that is exclusively dedicated to increasing health professionals’ knowledge of cancer care. ESO undertakes a number of educational events that are clinically orientated, multi-professional and evidence-based, as well as reflecting the human experience of cancer.

The scientific independence of the School is guaranteed by core funding from individual donors and a number of charitable foundations. Most of ESO’s events are held in English however, the School also offers courses and seminars in German, French, Spanish and Italian. In addition, the School organises

educational events in Latin America, Russia and the CIS, and in the Balkans and Middle East. ESO keeps the European cancer community updated on advances in cancer care via its scientific magazine CancerWorld. Further information about the organisation is available from www.cancerworld.org.

European Oncology Nursing Society (EONS)

EONS is acting as a cancer nursing resource for the GAEA survey. EONS President, Yvonne Wengström (Sweden), represents the Society on the GAEA Steering Committee.

Established in 1984, EONS has a mission to improve the quality of care that individuals with cancer receive through excellence in cancer nursing practice. Through the many educational, collaborative and research initiatives implemented over the past 20 years, EONS has made a significant contribution to the quality of care that millions of European cancer patients receive. EONS members include individual cancer nurses, national oncology nursing societies and cancer institutions from across Europe. The 50 cancer nursing organisations in membership of EONS represent approximately 18,000 nurses in over 30 European countries. The working language of the Society is English although every effort is made to provide translation of educational materials into other European languages and to provide translation services at educational events. EONS collaborates with other health professionals active in the cancer area through its membership of the Federation of European Cancer Societies (FECS) and has strong working relations with a number of important nursing organisations including the European Federation of Nurses (EFN), European Specialist Nursing Organisation (ESNO), the International Society of Nurses in Cancer Care (ISNCC) and the US Oncology Nursing Society (ONS).

Further information about the EONS is available from www.cancerworld.org.

Novartis Oncology

Novartis Oncology has provided funding for The GAEA Initiative. The company was actively involved in the concept behind the initiative and in the development of the survey questionnaire. The company is represented on the GAEA Steering Committee by Susanna Leto di Priolo, Head of Patient Advocacy Relations, Novartis Oncology, Europe.

Novartis Oncology is a business unit of Novartis Pharma AG, one of the world’s leading pharmaceutical and consumer health companies. Novartis is a world leader in the research and development of products to protect and improve health and well-being. Novartis was created in 1996 from the merger of the Swiss companies Ciba-Geigy and Sandoz. The company’s core businesses are in pharmaceuticals, consumer health, generics, eye-care and animal health. Novartis is committed to research and development to bring innovative products to the communities it serves.

Headquartered in Basel, Switzerland, Novartis Group companies employ about 81,400 people and operate in over 140 countries. Further information about Novartis is available from www.novartis.com.

Europa Donna (ED)

Europa Donna - the European Breast Cancer Coalition - is acting as the patient advocacy resource for the GAEA survey.

ED is an independent, non-profit organisation whose members are affiliated groups from throughout Europe. The coalition works to raise awareness of breast cancer and to mobilise the support of European women in pressing for improved breast cancer education, appropriate screening, optimal treatment and care, and increased funding for research. ED represents the interests of European women regarding breast cancer to local and national authorities as well as to institutions of the European Union. There are currently 39 member countries and the current President of ED is Ingrid Kössler (Sweden).

Further information about the Europa Donna is available from www.europadonna.org.