Sydney Cancer Center - Psycho-Oncology: Medical Psychology

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Psycho-Oncology

Members:

Dr Melanie Price
Dr Ilona Juraskova
Dr Barbara Mullan
Dr Judy Wilson
Dr Belinda Thewes
Ms Brandi Baylock
Ms Anna-Lena Lopez
Mr Ben Smith
Ms Diana Grivas
Ms Lan Tran
Ms Lynley Aldridge
Ms Naomi McGowan
Ms Tracey Bullen
Ben Colagiuri
Byeongsang Oh
Haryana Dhillon
Mariette Maclurcan
Rachel Zordan

Research Overview
Over the past fifteen years, the MPRU has built an international reputation in psycho-oncology research, and in particular:

doctor-patient communication in the oncology and palliative care setting
multi-cultural needs and communication issues
cancer support group leaders

Research goals:
To further develop a program of research in ovarian cancer to improve the experience of women with ovarian cancer and their carers

To further develop a program of research in evidence-based decision-making to facilitate effective involvement of cancer patients in decisions where appropriate and desired.

To complete a 10 year cohort study of unaffected woman at high risk of developing breast cancer exploring the role of stress, social support and coping in promoting cancer development

To further consolidate our research group as an leading international centre of research in Psycho-Oncology and doctor-patient communication

2006/2007 Highlights
Publication of one of the first RCTs of communication skills training to evaluate impact on patient as well as doctor outcomes (Psycho-Oncology, In Press). There is a strong need to show that communication skills training influences health professional behaviour in the long-term, and actually improves patient outcomes. Very few studies have been conducted due to the time and expense involved.

We were successful in obtaining the following two NSW Cancer Institute Clinical Fellowships, the first of which is based at the Sydney Cancer Centre:
Price M, Bailie A, Foley D. Mindfulness training for individuals with a diagnosis of cancer. Cancer Institute NSW Clinical Psycho-oncology Fellowship. 2006-2007. $125,000.

Butow P, Thewes B. Feasibility and impact of routine screening for psychosocial morbidity in the rural cancer setting. Cancer Institute NSW Clinical Psycho-oncology Fellowship. 2006-2007. $100,000.

Two PhD students supervised within the MPRU have graduated.

Publications 2006/2007

Books
Morrison, Bennett, Butow, et al., An introduction to Health Psychology: An Australian perspective 2007, Australia: Pearson Education Ltd.

Book chapters
Clayton JM, Tattersall MHN. Communication in palliative care. In: Textbook of Palliative Medicine, Bruera E, Higginson I, Ripamonti C, von Gunten C (eds). Hodder Arnold, London, pp.1011-1018, 2006.

Reports
1. Lobb E, Butow P, Price M, et al., Communication skills module for ductal carcinoma in situ. 2007, NBCC Report.

Journal articles
1. Butow P & Hagerty R. The Psycho-oncology Co-operative Research Group. Cancer Forum. 2006;30(1):32-4.

2. Butow PN, Solomon M, Young JM, et al. Consumer impact of an interactive decision aid for rectal cancer patients offered adjuvant therapy. Colorectal Disease. 2006;8(8):676-682.

3. Davey HM & Butow PN. Qualitative study of how women define and use information about breast symptoms and diagnostic tests. Breast. 2006;15(5):659-65.

4. Elwyn G, O'Connor A, Stacey D, et al. Developing a quality criteria framework for patient decision aids: Online international Delphi consensus process. British Medical Journal. 2006;333(7565):417.

5. Herz H, McKinnon PM, Butow PN. Proof of love and other themes: A qualitative exploration of the experience of caring for people with motor neurone disease. Progress in Palliative Care. 2006;14(5):209-214.

6. Kasparian NA, Meiser B, Butow PN, et al. Better the devil you know? High-risk individuals' anticipated psychological responses to genetic testing for melanoma susceptibility. Journal of Genetic Counseling. 2006;15(6):433.

7. Kirsten L, Butow P, Price M, et al. Who helps the leaders? Difficulties experienced by cancer support group leaders. Supportive Care in Cancer. 2006;14(7):770-778.

8. Kirsten LT, Wain GV, Butow PN, et al. Diversity and availability of support groups. Cancer Forum. 2006;30(1):35-8.

9. Lobb EA, Butow PN, Moore A, et al. Development of a communication aid to facilitate risk communication in consultations with unaffected women from high risk breast cancer families: A pilot study. Journal of Genetic Counseling. 2006;15(5):393-405.

10. Mann GJ, Thorne H, Balleine RL, et al. Analysis of cancer risk and BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutation prevalence in the kConFab familial breast cancer resource. Breast Cancer Research. 2006;8(1).

11. Price M, Butow P, Kirsten L. Support and training needs of cancer support group leaders: A review. Psycho-Oncology. 2006;15(8):651-663.

12. Pritchard MT, Butow PN, Stevens MM, et al. Understanding medication adherence in pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia: A review. Journal of Pediatric Hematology Oncology. 2006;28(12):816-823.

13. Trevena LJ, Davey HM, Barratt A, et al. A systematic review on communicating with patients about evidence. Journal of Evaluation in Clinical Practice. 2006;12(1):13-23.

14. Ussher J, Kirsten L, Butow P, et al. What do cancer support groups provide which other supportive relationships do not? The experience of peer support groups for people with cancer. Social Science and Medicine. 2006;62(10):2565-2576.

15. Cebon J for the Australasian Gastro-Intestinal Trials Group (AGITG) AG0001H Investigators (Member of the Trial Steering Committee). Somatostatin receptor expression, tumor response and quality of life in patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma treated with long-acting octreotide. Brit.J.Cancer, 95:853-861, 2006.

16. Hauser C, Stockler M, Tattersall M. Prognostic factors in patients with recently diagnosed incurable cancer: a systematic review. Supportive Care in Cancer, 14:999-1011, 2006.

17. Mar Fan Hg, Vardy J, Xu W, Tannock IF. J.Clin.Oncol., 24:5171-5172, 2006 (Letters to the Editor)

18. Tattersall MHN. Levofloxacin prevented fever and infection during prolonged chemotherapy-induced neutropenia. ACP J Club, 144:40, 2006.

19. Tattersall, Martin HN. Reflection and Reaction. Multidisciplinary team meetings: where is the value? Lancet Oncology, 7:886-888, 2006.

20. Vardy J, Chiew K, Galica J, Pond GR, Tannock IF. Side effects associated with the use of dexamethasone for prophylaxis of delayed emesis after moderately emetogenic chemotherapy. Brit.J.Cancer, 94:1011-1015, 2006.

21. Vardy J, Wong K, Yi Q, Park A, Maruff P, Wagner L, Tannock IF. Assessing cognitive function in cancer patients. J.Support.Care, 14(11):1111-1118, 2006.

22. Winocur G, Vardy J, Binns M, Kerr L, Tannock IF. The effects of the anti-cancer drugs, methotrexate and 5-fluorouracil on cognitive function in mice. Pharm.Biochem.Behavior, 85(1): 66-75, 2006.

23. Brown RF, Butow P, Boyle F, et al. Seeking informed consent to cancer clinical trials: Evaluating the efficacy of doctor communication skills training. Psycho-Oncology. 2007;16(6):507-516.

24. Choy ET, Chiu A, Butow P, et al. A pilot study to evaluate the impact of involving breast cancer patients in the multidisciplinary discussion of their disease and treatment plan. Breast. 2007;16(2):178-189.

25. Clayton J, Hancock K, Butow P, et al. Clinical practice guidelines for communciating prognosis and end-of-life issues with adults in the advanced stages of a life-limiting illness, and their caregivers. Medical Journal of Australia. 2007;186(12):S77-S108.

26. Clayton JM, Butow PN, Tattersall MHN, et al. Randomized controlled trial of a prompt list to help advanced cancer patients and their caregivers to ask questions about prognosis and end-of-life care. Journal of Clinical Oncology. 2007;25(6):715-723.

27. Davey HM, Barratt AL, Butow PN, et al. A one-item question with a Likert or Visual Analog Scale adequately measured current anxiety. Journal of Clinical Epidemiology. 2007;60(4):356-360.

28. Duric VM, Butow PN, Sharpe L, et al. Psychosocial factors and patients' preferences for adjuvant chemotherapy in early breast cancer. Psycho-Oncology. 2007;16(1):48-59.

29. Hodgkinson K, Butow P, Fuchs A, et al. Long-term survival from gynecologic cancer: Psychosocial outcomes, supportive care needs and positive outcomes. Gynecologic Oncology. 2007;104(2):381-389.

30. Hodgkinson K, Butow P, Hobbs KM, et al. Assessing unmet supportive care needs in partners of cancer survivors: The development and evaluation of the Cancer Survivors' Partners Unmet Needs measure (CaSPUN). Psycho-Oncology. 2007;16(9):805-813.

31. Hodgkinson K, Butow P, Hunt G, et al. The development and evaluation of a measure to assess cancer survivors' unmet support care needs: The CaSUN (Cancer Survivors Unmet Needs measure). Psycho-Oncology. 2007;16(9):796-804.

32. Hodgkinson K, Butow P, Hunt G, et al. Breast cancer survivors’ supportive care needs 2–10 years after diagnosis. Supportive Care in Cancer. 2007;15(5):515-523.

33. Hodgkinson K, Butow P, Hunt G, et al. Life after cancer: Couples’ and partners’ psychological adjustment and supportive care needs. Supportive Care in Cancer. 2007;15(4):405-415.

34. Juraskova I, Butow P, Lopez A, et al. Improving informed consent in clinical trials: Successful piloting of a decision aid [Letter]. Journal of Clinical Oncology. 2007;25(11):1443-1444.

35. Juraskova I, Butow P, Sharpe L, et al. "What does it mean?" Uncertainty, trust and communication following treatment for pre-cancerous cervical abnormalities. Psycho-Oncology. 2007;16(6):525-533.

36. Kasparian NA, Meiser B, Butow PN, et al. Anticipated uptake of genetic testing for familial melanoma in an Australian sample: An exploratory study. Psycho-Oncology. 2007;16(1):69-78.

37. Kinnersley P, Butler C, Butow P, et al. Interventions before consultations for helping patients address their information needs (Version 02). Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. 2007.

38. Koh T, Butow PN, Coory M, et al. Provision of taped conversations with neonatologists to mothers of babies in intensive care: Randomised controlled trial. British Medical Journal. 2007;334(7583):28-31.

39. McCaffery K, Shepherd H, Trevena L, et al. Shared decision making in Australia. Zeitschrift fur Arztliche Fortbildung und Qualitatssicherung [German Journal for Evidence and Quality in Health Care]. 2007;4(101):205-211.

40. Rodriguez KL, Gambino FJ, Butow P, et al. Pushing up daisies: Implicit and explicit language in oncologist-patient communication about death. Supportive Care in Cancer. 2007;15(2):153-161.

41. Shepherd H, Tattersall M, Butow P. The context influences doctors' support of shared decision making in cancer care. British Journal of Cancer. 2007;97(1):6-13.

42. Sponiar M, Sharpe L, Butow P, et al. Reproductive choices of women with multiple sclerosis. International Journal of MS Care. 2007;9(1):9-12.

43. Long G, Tattersall MHN. Lung encasement by metastatic osteoblastic sarcoma. Med.J.Aust., 186:100, 2007.

44. Stockler MR, O’Connell R, Nowak AK, Goldstein D, Turner J, Wilcken NRC, Wyld D, Abdi E, Glasgow A, Beale PJ, Jefford J, Dhillon H, Heritier S, Carter C, Hickie IB, Simes RJ on behalf of the Zoloft’s Effects on Symptoms and Survival Times (ZEST) Trial Group. Effect of sertaline on symptoms and survival in patients with advanced cancer, but without major depression: a placebo-controlled double-blind randomised trial. The Lancet Oncol., published online 4 June 2007.

45. Vardy J, Rourke S, Tannock I. Evaluation of cognitive function in cancer survivors: methodological challenges. J.Clin.Oncol., 25:2455-2463, 2007.