Current Studies

Implementing Evidence-Based Practice in Clinical Care

This study will test adaptable survey tools for identifying and prioritizing barriers and facilitators to implementing evidence-based practice in clinical care across the cancer continuum.  Participation involves completing two on-line surveys.  The surveys ask eligible healthcare personnel to describe an evidence-based practice or intervention they are implementing and answer questions about the practice or innovation (current or planned; type of practice on the cancer care continuum; barriers to implementation, implementation state and intention). The initial survey takes about 30 minutes to complete and then, one month later, the follow up survey takes about 5 minutes.

Worry about Affording Healthcare in Breast Cancer

This study will examine the experience of financial burden and hardship in people with breast cancer. Participation involves completing a one-time, 60-minute interview. Interviews can be completed in-person, over the phone or virtually (i.e. MS Teams or teleconference). Interviews will cover causes of financial hardship, how patients cope with financial hardship and the emotional experiences of worry and depression that come from financial burden after cancer.

Past studies

Development of Precision Patient-reported Outcomes for the Assessment of Pain

Many people living with cancer experience symptoms – including pain – which can last for years after cancer treatment.  The best, and often only, way to assess post-treatment symptoms in survivors is by using patient-reported outcomes (PROs). PROs are questionnaire-based measures that ask patients directly about their symptoms and feelings. In this study we aim to develop PROs that are tailored to, and hence potentially meaningful for, individual patients.

The Relationship of Distress and Health

This study tested several unique methods of determining response on the numerical rating scale (the 0 to 10 pain and distress scales) based on what is personally meaningful to each individual. This project also developed new measures of financial worry about affording healthcare. A second part of this project examined healthcare provider attitudes towards patient-reported outcomes in clinical care. The study is currently in the data analysis phase.

Cancer Screening Barriers in Women at High Risk of Breast Cancer

This project surveyed young women (ages 30 to 50) at high risk of developing breast cancer to determine financial, informational and psychosocial barriers to cancer screening. This study is currently in the data analysis phase.