Karen L Syrjala

University of Washington Seattle, Seattle, WA, USA

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Publications (32)245.87 Total impact

  • Article: How to assess cancer pain.
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    ABSTRACT: Examines some of the methodological and practical issues in the assessment of cancer pain and its impact. We describe a "minimal data set" of information needed for treatment planning, and suggest how pain questionnaires might be used to improve assessment. Although our focus is on the clinical assessment of pain, we describe how similar pain assessment procedures can be used in such areas as clinical trials, quality assurance, and prevalence surveys. We deal here only with information that can be obtained by questionnaires, interview, and observation of the patient; however, pain assessment should include a medical evaluation and the possible addition of appropriate diagnostic procedures. A retrospective survey of patients with cancer found that two-thirds of patients referred for pain assessment had new (and often treatable) pathology diagnosed as a result of the medical evaluation and follow-up. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2012 APA, all rights reserved)
    10/2012;
  • Article: Delivering care to long-term adult survivors of hematopoietic cell transplantation.
    Karen L Syrjala, Paul J Martin, Stephanie J Lee
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    ABSTRACT: This review highlights long-term and late consequences of hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) as well as strategies to manage or prevent complications that are more prevalent after HCT than most other cancer treatments. Chronic graft-versus-host disease stands out as a unique late effect of allogeneic HCT that is not seen after other types of cancer treatment. However, many other complications seen after solid tumor treatments are also common after HCT, including infections, second cancers, bone loss, and cardiovascular, pulmonary, renal, and endocrine dysfunction. Symptoms and syndromes that are reported after HCT include sexual dysfunction, cognitive problems, fatigue, insomnia, musculoskeletal symptoms, emotional distress, anger, and depression. Addressing these complex potential or actual complications requires diligent routine health care to intervene early or, when possible, to prevent late complications. To accomplish early detection and prevention of life-threatening complications, HCT survivors should undergo an annual comprehensive physical examination that includes screening for functional and psychosocial consequences of treatment and encouraging healthy lifestyle behaviors. Clinicians can link survivors to numerous online, print, and video resources to help them advocate for their health needs.
    Journal of Clinical Oncology 09/2012; 30(30):3746-51. · 18.37 Impact Factor
  • Article: The effect of pre-transplant distress on immune reconstitution among adult autologous hematopoietic cell transplantation patients.
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    ABSTRACT: Myeloablative hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) is a common treatment for hematological malignancy. Delayed immune reconstitution following HCT is a major impediment to recovery with patients being most vulnerable during the first month after transplant. HCT is a highly stressful process. Because psychological distress has been associated with down regulation of immune function we examined the effect of pre-transplant distress on white blood cell (WBC) count among 70 adult autologous HCT patients during the first 3weeks after transplant. The participants were on average 38years old; 93% Caucasian, non-Hispanic and 55% male. Pre-transplant distress was measured 2-14days before admission using the Cancer and Treatment Distress (CTXD) scale, and the Symptom Checklist-90-R (SCL-90-R) anxiety and depression subscales. WBC count was measured during initial immune recovery on days 5 through 22 post-transplant. Linear mixed model regression analyses controlling for gender and treatment-related variables revealed a significant effect of the mean pre-transplant SCL Anxiety-Depression score on WBC recovery. We found no significant effect of pre-transplant CTXD on WBC recovery. In general, higher levels of pre-treatment anxiety and depression were associated with slower WBC recovery. Psychological modulation of WBC recovery during HCT suggests a unique mechanism by which psychological distress can exert influence over the immune system. Given that WBC recovery is essential to survival for HCT patients, these data provide a rationale for treating anxiety and depression in HCT patients.
    Brain Behavior and Immunity 08/2012; · 4.72 Impact Factor
  • Article: Expressive talking among caregivers of hematopoietic stem cell transplant survivors: acceptability and concurrent subjective, objective, and physiologic indicators of emotion.
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    ABSTRACT: This study sought to examine the effects of an expressive talking intervention for 58 caregiving partners of hematopoietic stem cell transplant survivors, persons known to experience distress. Caregivers were randomly assigned to a three-session emotional expression (EE) or control condition. Subjective, objective, and physiologic indicators of emotion were assessed. Relative to controls, EE participants experienced more negative emotion, uttered more negative emotion words, and perceived the exercises as more helpful and meaningful. The trajectory of skin conductance and the use of cognitive mechanism words increased across EE sessions, suggesting sustained emotional engagement. Future research is warranted to determine the optimal dose and timing of EE for this population.
    Journal of Psychosocial Oncology 05/2012; 30(3):294-315. · 0.98 Impact Factor
  • Article: Hypnosis for symptom management in women with breast cancer: a pilot study.
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    ABSTRACT: Eight women who were in treatment for breast cancer (n = 4) or breast cancer survivors (n = 4), presenting with 1 or more of 4 symptoms (chronic pain, fatigue, hot flashes, and sleep difficulties), were given 4 to 5 sessions of self-hypnosis training for symptom management. Analyses revealed (a) significant pre- to posttreatment decreases in pain intensity, fatigue, and sleep problems and (b) that pain intensity continued to decrease from posttreatment to 6-month follow-up. Although there was a slight increase in fatigue severity and sleep problems from posttreatment to 6-month follow-up, the follow-up scores did not return to pretreatment levels. The findings provide initial support for using hypnosis to manage symptoms in women who are breast cancer survivors. Clinical trials evaluating hypnosis efficacy over and above other treatments are warranted.
    International Journal of Clinical and Experimental Hypnosis 04/2012; 60(2):135-59. · 1.52 Impact Factor
  • Article: Community-based exercise program effectiveness and safety for cancer survivors.
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    ABSTRACT: Clinical trials have demonstrated the benefits of exercise for cancer survivors. This investigation determined the effectiveness and safety of a disseminated community-based exercise program for cancer survivors who had completed treatment. Personal trainers from regional YMCAs received training in cancer rehabilitation and supervised twice-a-week, 12-week group exercise sessions for survivors. At baseline and post-program, validated measures assessed patient-reported outcomes (PRO) and physiologic measurements. Data were collected from 221 survivors from 13 YMCA sites and 36 separate classes. All participants had data available at one time point, while matched baseline and post-program PRO and physiologic data were available for 85% (N = 187). Participants with matched data were largely female (82%), with mean age of 58 (range, 28-91 years). Time since diagnosis ranged from 1 to 48 (mean, 5.6 years), and mean time since last treatment was 3.0 (range, 1-33 years). Physiological improvements were significant in systolic (P < 0.001) and diastolic (P = 0.035) blood pressure, upper and lower body strength, the 6-min walk test (P = 0.004), and flexibility (P < 0.001). Participants reported improvements in overall health-related quality of life (P < 0.001), social support (P = 0.019), body pain (P = 0.016), fatigue (P < 0.001), insomnia (P < 0.001), and overall musculoskeletal symptoms (P = <0.001). Few injuries or lymphedema events occurred during classes. Community-based exercise groups for cancer survivors of mixed diagnoses and ages, who have completed active treatment, have physiologic and psychosocial benefits, and are safe. Survivors may expect significant benefit from participating in a community-based exercise program tailored to meet their individual needs as a survivor.
    Journal of Cancer Survivorship 01/2012; 6(2):219-28. · 2.63 Impact Factor
  • Article: Prospective neurocognitive function over 5 years after allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation for cancer survivors compared with matched controls at 5 years.
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    ABSTRACT: Research has documented cognitive deficits both before and after high-dose treatment followed by allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT), with partial recovery by 1 year. This study prospectively examined the trajectory and extent of long-term cognitive dysfunction, with a focus on 1 to 5 years after treatment. Allogeneic HCT recipients completed standardized neuropsychological tests including information processing speed (Trail Making A and Digit Symbol Substitution Test), verbal memory (Hopkins Verbal Learning Test-Revised), executive function (Controlled Oral Word Association Test and Trail Making B), and motor dexterity and speed (Grooved Pegboard). Survivors (n = 92) were retested after 80 days and 1 and 5 years after transplantation. Case-matched controls (n = 66) received testing at the 5-year time point. A Global Deficit Score (GDS) summarized overall impairment. Response profiles were analyzed using linear mixed effects models. Survivors recovered significant cognitive function from post-transplantation (80 days) to 5 years in all tests (P < .0001) except verbal recall (P > .06). Between 1 and 5 years, verbal fluency improved (P = .0002), as did executive function (P < .01), but motor dexterity did not (P > .15), remaining below controls (P < .0001) and more than 0.5 standard deviation below population norms. In GDS, 41.5% of survivors and 19.7% of controls had mild or greater deficits (NcNemar test = 7.04, P = .007). Although neurocognitive function improved from 1 to 5 years after HCT, deficits remained for more than 40% of survivors. Risk factors, mechanisms and rehabilitation strategies need to be identified for these residual deficits.
    Journal of Clinical Oncology 06/2011; 29(17):2397-404. · 18.37 Impact Factor
  • Article: Development and implementation of an Internet-based survivorship care program for cancer survivors treated with hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.
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    ABSTRACT: The Internet provides a widely accessible modality for meeting survivorship care needs of cancer survivors. In this paper, we describe the development and implementation of an Internet site designed as a base from which to conduct a randomized controlled trial to meet psycho-educational needs of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) survivors. A cross-disciplinary team designed, wrote content, and programmed an Internet site for online study registration, consent, assessment, and study implementation. All survivors who were 3-18 years after HSCT for hematologic malignancy and treated at one transplant center were approached by mail for participation. All study activities could be conducted without study staff contact. However, participants had options for phone or email contact with study staff as desired. Of 1,775 participants approached for the study, 775 (58% of those eligible) consented and completed baseline assessment. Mean age was 51.7 (SD, 12.5; age range, 18-79 years), with 56% male. Fifty-seven percent required staff contact one or more times; a majority were for minor technical issues or delays in completion of enrollment or baseline assessment. This study demonstrated the potential for providing Internet-based survivorship care to long-term survivors of HSCT. Although building a survivorship Internet site requires a team with diverse expertise, once built, these resources can be implemented rapidly with large numbers of survivors. While Internet-based services will not meet all the needs of cancer survivors, this methodology represents an important modality for augmenting onsite clinical services as a method for meeting psycho-educational, information, and resource needs of cancer survivors.
    Journal of Cancer Survivorship 05/2011; 5(3):292-304. · 2.63 Impact Factor
  • Article: Pre- and post-transplantation risk factors for delirium onset and severity in patients undergoing hematopoietic stem-cell transplantation.
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    ABSTRACT: To determine pre- and post-transplantation risk factors for delirium onset and severity during the acute phase of myeloablative hematopoietic stem-cell transplantation (HSCT). Ninety adult patients with malignancies admitted to the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center for their first HSCT were assessed prospectively from 1 week before transplantation to 30 days after transplantation. Delirium was assessed three times per week using the Delirium Rating Scale and the Memorial Delirium Assessment Scale. Potential risk factors were assessed by patient self-report, charts, and computerized records. Multivariable analysis of time to onset of a delirium episode was undertaken using Cox proportional hazards regression with time-varying covariates. Analysis for delirium severity was carried out using a linear mixed effects model. Validation and sensitivity analyses were performed on the final models. Forty-five patients (50%) experienced a delirium episode. Pretransplantation risk factors for onset and higher severity of delirium were higher mean alkaline phosphatase and blood urea nitrogen (BUN) levels. Poorer pretransplantation executive functioning was also associated with higher delirium severity. Higher doses of opioid medications were the only post-transplantation risk factor for delirium onset (hazard ratio, 1.05; 95% CI, 1.02 to 1.08). Higher opioid doses, current and prior pain, and higher BUN levels were post-transplantation risk factors for greater delirium severity (all P < .01). Pre- and post-transplantation factors can assist in identifying patients who are at risk for delirium during myeloablative HSCT and may enable clinical interventions to prevent delirium onset or decrease delirium symptoms.
    Journal of Clinical Oncology 01/2011; 29(7):895-901. · 18.37 Impact Factor
  • Article: Factors associated with adherence to preventive care practices among hematopoietic cell transplantation survivors.
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    ABSTRACT: Preventive care guidelines are available for hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) survivors. We assessed adherence to these guidelines and examined factors associated with lower adherence. A questionnaire was mailed to adult HCT survivors to collect information regarding survivor health, adherence to recommended guidelines, and financial concerns. Multivariate models identified patient and transplant characteristics associated with lower adherence. Of the 3066 survivors at >2 years after HCT, 1549 (51%) responded. The median age of the respondents was 54.5 years, and the median adherence to recommended preventive care based on age- and sex-specific recommendations was 75%. Lower adherence was associated with autologous HCT, concerns about medical costs, non-white race, male sex, lower physical functioning, absence of chronic graft-versus-host disease, longer time since HCT, and poor knowledge of recommended tests. Although 98% of the respondents had medical insurance, 26% expressed concerns about medical costs and reported efforts to limit medical costs. A concern about medical costs was associated with female sex, age <65 years, absence of chronic graft-versus-host disease, and low physical and mental functional status. Future efforts to improve adherence should address concerns about medical costs and lack of knowledge, two major modifiable predictors of lower adherence to preventive care practices in HCT survivors.
    Biology of blood and marrow transplantation: journal of the American Society for Blood and Marrow Transplantation 12/2010; 17(7):995-1003. · 3.15 Impact Factor
  • Article: Pain in long-term breast cancer survivors: frequency, severity, and impact.
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    ABSTRACT: To better understand the severity and impact of pain in women who are breast cancer survivors. Cross-sectional survey. Cancer wellness clinic. Two hundred fifty-three women with a history of early-stage breast cancer who had completed therapy and were without evidence of disease. Interventions. None. A survey that included questions about cancer history, pain, sleep problems, and physical and psychological functioning. About half of the participants (117 or 46%) reported some pain, although most rated its intensity as mild. Both average and worst pain ratings showed significant associations with physical functioning (rs, -0.48 and -0.43, respectively), severity of sleep problems (rs, 0.31 and 0.30), and psychological functioning (rs, -0.27 and -0.24). Age (with younger participants slightly more likely to report pain) and history of antiestrogen therapy showed nonsignificant trends to predict the presence of pain. The study findings provide new and important knowledge regarding the severity and impact of pain in female breast cancer survivors. The results indicate that clinicians should assess pain regularly in breast cancer survivors and treat this pain when indicated. The findings also support the need for research to determine whether improved pain management would result in improved quality of life for women with a history of breast cancer.
    Pain Medicine 07/2010; 11(7):1099-106. · 2.35 Impact Factor
  • Article: Impact of delirium on decision-making capacity after hematopoietic stem-cell transplantation.
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    ABSTRACT: Delirium is a common complication of myeloablative hematopoietic stem-cell transplantation (HSCT), yet no studies have explored the later effects of an episode of delirium in this setting on patients' decision-making capacity after the acute symptoms of delirium have resolved. The authors assessed the impact of delirium during the acute phase of myeloablative HSCT on later decision-making capacity. Decision-making capacity was assessed with the MacArthur Competence Assessment Tool in 19 patients before they received their first HSCT and at 30 and 80 days post-transplantation. Delirium was assessed 3 times per week with the Delirium Rating Scale and the Memorial Delirium Assessment Scale from 7 days pre-transplantation through 30 days post-transplantation. Although there was little variance in the pre-treatment scores, with most patients showing very high or perfect scores on decision-making abilities, a multivariate regression model showed that delirium was predictive of a lower reasoning score at Day 30 post-transplantation. Patients who experienced a delirium episode during the acute phase of HSCT were not likely to develop clinically meaningful impairments in decision-making capacity post-transplantation, although they evidenced minor impairment in their reasoning ability.
    Psychosomatics 07/2010; 51(4):320-9. · 2.12 Impact Factor
  • Article: Impact of delirium on distress, health-related quality of life, and cognition 6 months and 1 year after hematopoietic cell transplant.
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    ABSTRACT: Delirium commonly occurs during myeloablative hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT). Little is known about how delirium during the acute phase of HCT affects long-term distress, health-related quality of life (HRQOL), and neurocognitive functioning. This prospective, cohort study examines these outcomes at 6 months and 1 year in 90 patients undergoing HCT. Patients completed a battery assessing distress, HRQOL, and subjective neuropsychological functioning before receiving their first HCT as well as at 6 months and 1 year. Patients with a delirium episode within the 4 weeks after HCT had significantly more distress and fatigue at 6 months (P < .004) and at 1 year (P < .03), compared with patients without delirium. At 1 year, patients with delirium also had worse symptoms of depression and post traumatic stress (P < .03). Patients with delirium had worse physical health on the SF-12 at 6 months (P < .03) and worse mental health on the SF-12 at 1 year (P < .03). At both 6 months and 1 year, patients with delirium after HCT reported worse memory (P < .009) and executive functioning (P < .006). Delirium during the acute phase of HCT is significantly associated with persistent distress, decreased HRQOL, and subjective neurocognitive dysfunction at both 6 months and 1 year.
    Biology of blood and marrow transplantation: journal of the American Society for Blood and Marrow Transplantation 06/2010; 16(6):824-31. · 3.15 Impact Factor
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    Article: Measuring musculoskeletal symptoms in cancer survivors who receive hematopoietic cell transplantation.
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    ABSTRACT: Beyond documentation of high prevalence rates, research has not examined the qualities and characteristics of musculoskeletal symptoms in cancer survivors, possibly because measures have not been validated specifically for the assessment of these symptoms in survivors. We report here on a new measure of muscle and joint symptoms for survivors of hematologic malignancies and hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT). In a cross-sectional design, 130 adults, 5-20 years after HCT, completed patient-reported outcomes. Assessment included musculoskeletal symptoms on the Muscle and Joint Measure (MJM), as well as health-related quality of life and treatments. Principal components analysis using promax rotation revealed four subscales for the MJM with item factor loadings above 0.50: muscle aches or stiffness (myalgias), joint pain, stiffness or swelling (arthralgias), muscle cramps, and muscle weakness. Variance explained by the total score was 77%. Internal consistency reliabilities of the subscales and total score ranged from 0.86 to 0.93. Validity was confirmed by correlations with the Short Form-36 bodily pain, physical function and vitality subscales, the Fatigue Symptom Inventory, and the Symptom Checklist-90-R depression (all P < .001). Musculoskeletal symptoms in survivors who received HCT can be measured reliably and validly with the MJM. The measure requires testing to establish its psychometric properties with other diagnostic and treatment groups. The MJM has potential research and clinical value for addressing the musculoskeletal symptoms of survivors. The measure may assist with examining the mechanisms as well as treatments for these symptoms, which are among the most prevalent in long-term cancer survivors.
    Journal of Cancer Survivorship 05/2010; 4(3):225-35. · 2.63 Impact Factor
  • Article: Life expectancy in patients surviving more than 5 years after hematopoietic cell transplantation.
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    ABSTRACT: PURPOSE Hematopoietic cell transplantation can cure hematologic malignancies and other diseases, but this treatment can also cause late complications. Previous studies have evaluated the cumulative effects of late complications on survival, but longer-term effects on life expectancy after hematopoietic cell transplantation have not been assessed. PATIENTS AND METHODS We used standard methods to evaluate mortality, projected life expectancy, and causes of death in a cohort of 2,574 patients who survived without recurrence of the original disease for at least 5 years after allogeneic or autologous hematopoietic cell transplantation from 1970 through 2002. Sex- and age-specific comparisons were made with US population data. Results Estimated survival of the cohort at 20 years after transplantation was 80.4% (95% CI, 78.1% to 82.6%). During 22,923 person-years of follow-up, 357 deaths occurred. Mortality rates remained four- to nine-fold higher than the expected population rate for at least 30 years after transplantation, yielding an estimated 30% lower life expectancy compared with that in the general population, regardless of current age. In rank order, the leading causes of excess deaths were second malignancies and recurrent disease, followed by infections, chronic graft-versus-host disease, respiratory diseases, and cardiovascular diseases. CONCLUSION Patients who have survived for at least 5 years after hematopoietic cell transplantation without recurrence of the original disease have a high probability of surviving for an additional 15 years, but life expectancy is not fully restored. Further effort is needed to reduce the burden of disease and treatment-related complications in this population.
    Journal of Clinical Oncology 02/2010; 28(6):1011-6. · 18.37 Impact Factor
  • Article: Intrapersonal and interpersonal consequences of protective buffering among cancer patients and caregivers.
    Shelby L Langer, Jonathon D Brown, Karen L Syrjala
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    ABSTRACT: Protective buffering refers to hiding cancer-related thoughts and concerns from one's spouse or partner. In this study, the authors examined the intrapersonal and interpersonal consequences of protective buffering and the motivations for such behavior (desire to shield partner from distress, desire to shield self from distress). Eighty hematopoietic stem cell transplantation recipients and their spousal caregivers/partners completed measures that were designed to assess protective buffering and relationship satisfaction at 2 time points: before transplantation (T1) and 50 days after transplantation (T2). Overall mental health also was assessed at T2. There was moderate agreement between 1 dyad member's reported buffering of their partner and the partner's perception of the extent to which they felt buffered. Caregivers buffered patients more than patients buffered caregivers, especially at T2. The more participants buffered their partners at T2 and the more they felt buffered, the lower their concurrent relationship satisfaction and the poorer their mental health. The latter effect was particularly true for patients who buffered and for patients who felt buffered. With respect to motivations, patients who buffered primarily to protect their partner at T1 reported increases in relationship satisfaction over time; however, when they did so at T2, their caregiver reported concurrent decreases in relationship satisfaction. Protective buffering is costly, in that those who buffer and those who feel buffered report adverse psychosocial outcomes. In addition, buffering enacted by patients with an intention to help may prove counterproductive, ultimately hurting the object of such protection.
    Cancer 09/2009; 115(18 Suppl):4311-25. · 4.77 Impact Factor
  • Article: Measuring social activities and social function in long-term cancer survivors who received hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.
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    ABSTRACT: Cancer survivors report deficits in social functioning even years after completing treatment. Commonly used measures of social functioning provide incomplete understanding of survivors' social behavior. This study describes social activities of survivors and evaluates the psychometric properties of the Social Activity Log (SAL) in a cohort of long-term survivors of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) for cancer. One hundred and two (5-20 year) survivors completed the SAL, Short-Form-36 Health Survey (SF-36), and other patient-reported outcomes. Principal components analysis determined the factor structure of the SAL along with correlations and regressions to establish validity. Principal component analysis yielded three factors in the SAL: 'non-contact events' (e.g. telephone calls), 'regular events' (e.g. played cards), and 'special events' (e.g. concerts), which explained 59% of the total variance. The SAL possessed good internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha=0.82). SF-36 social function and SAL were moderately correlated (r=0.31). In linear regressions, physical function and depression explained 16% of the variance in the SAL (P<0.001), while physical function, depression, and fatigue predicted 55% of the variance in SF-36 social function (P<0.001). Results support the use of the SAL as a measure of social activity in cancer survivors who received HSCT. Although the SAL is designed to measure social behaviors, SF-36 social function assesses subjective experience and is more strongly associated with depression and fatigue. The SAL appears to be a promising tool to understand the behavioral social deficits reported by long-term survivors of cancer.
    Psycho-Oncology 05/2009; 19(5):462-71. · 3.34 Impact Factor
  • Article: Marital adjustment, satisfaction and dissolution among hematopoietic stem cell transplant patients and spouses: a prospective, five-year longitudinal investigation.
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    ABSTRACT: To examine the trajectory of marital adjustment, satisfaction and dissolution among 121 hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) couples-as a function of role (patient or spouse) and gender. Prospective, longitudinal design. Participants completed the Dyadic Adjustment Scale at six time points: pre-transplant (4-7 days after beginning medical workup prior to starting transplant), 6 months post-transplant, and 1, 2, 3 and 5 years post-transplant. They also reported on marital status over time. Participants ranged in age from 23-68 (52% female patients and 48% female spouses). Ninety-eight patients received an allogeneic transplant; 23 received an autologous transplant. Marital dissolution was uncommon (four divorces since the transplant among 55 participating 5-year survivors, 7%). Dyadic satisfaction was stable over time for both male and female patients and male spouses, but not for female spouses who reported reductions in satisfaction at all time points relative to baseline. Couples were by and large resilient. However, caregiver-specific gender differences indicate an increased risk for relationship maladjustment and dissatisfaction among female spouses and ultimately, female spouse/male patient couples.
    Psycho-Oncology 02/2009; 19(2):190-200. · 3.34 Impact Factor
  • Article: The psychological challenges of cancer.
    Karen L Syrjala
    Oncology (Williston Park, N.Y.) 10/2008; 22(11 Suppl Nurse Ed):20-1. · 1.03 Impact Factor
  • Article: Patient training in cancer pain management using integrated print and video materials: a multisite randomized controlled trial.
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    ABSTRACT: Standard guidelines for cancer pain treatment routinely recommend training patients to reduce barriers to pain relief, use medications appropriately, and communicate their pain-related needs. Methods are needed to reduce professional time required while achieving sustained intervention effectiveness. In a multisite, randomized controlled trial, this study tested a pain training method versus a nutrition control. At six oncology clinics, physicians (N=22) and nurses (N=23) enrolled patients (N=93) who were over 18 years of age, with cancer diagnoses, pain, and a life expectancy of at least 6 months. Pain training and control interventions were matched for materials and method. Patients watched a video followed by about 20 min of manual-standardized training with an oncology nurse focused on reviewing the printed material and adapted to individual concerns of patients. A follow-up phone call after 72 h addressed individualized treatment content and pain communication. Assessments at baseline, one, three, and 6 months included barriers, the Brief Pain Inventory, opioid use, and physician and nurse ratings of their patients' pain. Trained versus control patients reported reduced barriers to pain relief (P<.001), lower usual pain (P=.03), and greater opioid use (P<.001). No pain training patients reported severe pain (>6 on a 0-10 scale) at 1-month outcomes (P=.03). Physician and nurse ratings were closer to patients' ratings of pain for trained versus nutrition groups (P=.04 and <.001, respectively). Training efficacy was not modified by patient characteristics. Using video and print materials, with brief individualized training, effectively improved pain management over time for cancer patients of varying diagnostic and demographic groups.
    Pain 03/2008; 135(1-2):175-86. · 5.78 Impact Factor

Institutions

  • 2007–2012
    • University of Washington Seattle
      • • Department of Psychology
      • • School of Social Work
      Seattle, WA, USA
    • National Cancer Institute (USA)
      • Office of Cancer Survivorship (OCS)
      Bethesda, MD, USA
  • 2002–2012
    • Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center
      • • Division of Clinical Research
      • • Biobehavioral Sciences
      Seattle, WA, USA
  • 2010
    • Atlantic Health System
      Morristown, NJ, USA
  • 2004
    • Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
      Boston, MA, USA