Cancer patients - behavioural research

Current research

Can a peer support program for cancer gene mutation carriers reduce distress? A randomised controlled trial

A prospective study evaluating the impact of a peer support program for cancer patients (Cancer Connect) on adjustment to a cancer diagnosis

Cancer Patient Needs Study

Referral of men newly diagnosed with colorectal or prostate cancer to a telephone-based support program

Reducing the unmet psychosocial needs of colorectal patients: a randomised controlled trial.

What role does emotional repression and positive and negative affect have in the onset of cancer?

Can a peer support program for cancer gene mutation carriers reduce distress? A randomised controlled trial

Principal Investigator(s): Victoria White (CBRC); Mary Anne Young (Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre), Michael Jefford (Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre), Bettina Meiser (Prince of Wales Hospital), Ingrid Winship (Royal Melbourne Hospital), Katherine Tucker (Prince of Wales Hospital)
Aims:

To determine the effectiveness of a telephone-based peer support program for women with a BRCA1/2 mutation on psychological distress using a randomised controlled trial.
To determine how feelings of isolation, unmet needs for information and confidence in risk management decisions relate to psychological distress and how these factors are influenced by the intervention.
To explore the impact of providing support among support providers.

Contact: Vicki White at CBRC

A prospective study evaluating the impact of a peer support program for cancer patients (Cancer Connect) on adjustment to a cancer diagnosis

Principal Investigator(s): Victoria White, Trish Livingston, Georgina Sutherland
Aims:

Determine if cancer patients who participate in Cancer Connect are satisfied with the program they received.
Determine what effect, if any, participation in Cancer Connect has on the experience of cancer treatment for program participants compared to patients who did not participant in the program.

Contact: Vicki White at CBRC

Cancer Patient Needs Study

Principal Investigator(s): David Hill, Georgina Sutherland, Vicki White
Aim(s): To explore the supportive care needs of patients with cancer. Specifically, the study aimed to:

evaluate the psychometric properties of the Short Supportive Care Needs Survey (SSCNS);
identify the immediate supportive care needs of newly diagnosed patients with cancer;
explore the predictors of unmet need among this group.

Contact: Georgina Sutherland at CBRC

Referral of men newly diagnosed with colorectal or prostate cancer to a telephone-based support program

Principal Investigator(s): Trish Livingston, David Hill, Vicki White, Doreen Akkerman (CISS); Stewart Dunn (Sydney University); Liz Maunsell (Laval University, Quebec); and other collaborators.
Aim(s): To determine whether an ‘active referral' and outcall program, as part of the specialist's management plan for newly diagnosed prostate and colorectal patients, will lead to a greater and/or more rapid improvement in psychological adjustment compared to patients in the ‘passive referral' group.
Funding: NHMRC; Australian Health Management Group
Contact: Trish Livingston at CBRC

Publications:
Livingston P, White V, Hayman J, Hill D. How acceptable is a referral and telephone-based outcall program for men diagnosed with cancer? A feasibility study. European Journal of Cancer Care 2006; 15: 467-475.

Reducing the unmet psychosocial needs of colorectal patients: a randomised controlled trial.

Principal Investigator(s): Rob Sanson-Fisher (University of Newcastle), Victoria White (CBRC), Catherine D'Este (University of Newcastle), Suzi Grogan (Cancer Information and Support Service), Christopher Doran (National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre), Michelle Macvean (CBRC)
Aims:

Determine the effectiveness of a tailored intervention to reduce the unmet psychosocial needs of colorectal cancer patients using a randomised controlled trial.
Conduct a cost-utility analysis by comparing costs of intervention and usual care conditions with QALYs (Quality Adjusted Life Years) of patients in each condition.
To determine how social support, treatment and demographic factors relate to levels of anxiety, depression and unmet needs among colorectal patients, and how these factors influence the outcome of the intervention.

Funding: NHMRC
Contact: Vicki White at CBRC

Publications:

Macvean ML, White VM, Pratt S, Grogan S, Sanson-Fisher R. Reducing the unmet needs of patients with colorectal cancer: a feasibility study of the Pathfinder Volunteer Program. Supportive Care in Cancer 2007; 15(3): 293-299.

What role does emotional repression and positive and negative affect have in the onset of cancer?

Principal Investigator(s): Victoria White, Melanie Wakefield; Dallas English, Graham Giles (Cancer Epidemiology Centre); Ron Borland (VCTC); David Hill
Aims: There has been much speculation and controversy over the role of emotions in cancer onset.
The aim of this study is to use data from a large prospective study to examine the association between anger repression and positive and negative affect and the onset of cancer over a 12-year period.
Funding: NHMRC
Contact: Vicki White at CBRC