Karen M Emmons

Harvard University | Harvard · Department of Society, Human Development, and Health

Background Diagnosis of breast cancer in young women has been shown to affect their decision‐making with regard to fertility and family planning. Limited data are available from populations across the U.S. regarding this issue; thus, we sought to describe fertility concerns and efforts to preserve fertility in a national clinical trial population o...

Purpose: In light of disparities in breast cancer care and outcomes, we explored whether attention to fertility, genetic, and emotional health concerns, as well as satisfaction with care, differs by race/ethnicity among young breast cancer patients. Methods: The Young and Strong Study was a cluster randomized trial of an intervention for patients a...

Background Obesity and inactivity are poor prognostic factors in breast cancer, but less is known regarding physical activity (PA) and weight patterns in young breast cancer survivors. Methods The Young and Strong Study was a cluster‐randomized trial evaluating education and support interventions for young women (age <45 years) with newly diagnose...

PURPOSE To improve skin cancer screening among survivors of childhood cancer treated with radiotherapy where skin cancers make up 58% of all subsequent neoplasms. Less than 30% of survivors currently complete recommended skin cancer screening. PATIENTS AND METHODS This randomized controlled comparative effectiveness trial evaluated patient and pro...

Abstract Background Young women with breast cancer tend to report lower quality of life and higher levels of stress than older women with breast cancer, and this may have implications for other psychosocial factors including finances. We sought to determine if stress, anxiety, and depression at diagnosis were associated with changes in household in...

Background: Hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) is a curative option for a growing number of patients with hematologic diseases and malignancies. However, HCT-related factors, such as total body irradiation used for conditioning, graft-versus-host disease, and prolonged exposure to immunosuppressive therapy, result in very high risk for melan...

BACKGROUND Fertility can be diminished by adjuvant chemotherapy or by age-related decline in ovarian reserve in young women with breast cancer (BC). We sought to better understand the burden of concern about fertility, utilization of fertility preservation strategies, and the impact of fertility concerns on treatment decision-making among young wom...

“Anchor Institutions”—universities, hospitals, and other large, place-based organizations—invest in their communities as a way of doing business. Anchor “meds” (anchor institutions dedicated to health) that address social needs and social determinants of health have generated considerable community-based activity over the past several decades. Yet...

Because rates of skin cancer are greater among adult survivors of childhood cancer who received radiation therapy than among the general population, the National Cancer Institute recommends skin self-examinations and annual physician examination. There has been no comprehensive assessment of survivors’ adherence to the skin cancer screening guideli...

Background The authors conducted a cluster randomized study to determine the effect of an exportable educational intervention for young women with breast cancer (YWI) on improving care. Methods Sites were randomized 1:1 to the YWI or a contact time control physical activity intervention (PAI) stratified by academic or community site. Up to 15 wome...

Cancer survivors are a rapidly growing population and an important target for tobacco treatment interventions. Continued smoking after the diagnosis of cancer is associated with a higher risk of cancer recurrence and mortality. Systematic tobacco cessation programs are effective. This study surveyed American College of Surgeons Commission on Cancer...

As a nation, we underinvest in prevention and fail to implement strategies that ensure all population groups equitably share in the return on investment in prevention research and the benefits of prevention effectiveness. There is significant evidence indicating that by applying knowledge that we already have to reduce tobacco, inactivity, and obes...

Introduction: Social support is important for behavior change, and it may be particularly important for the complexities of changing multiple risk behaviors (MRB). Research is needed to determine if participants in an MRB intervention can be encouraged to activate their social network to aid their change efforts. Methods: Healthy Directions 2, a...

Objective: The aims of this feasibility study of an adapted lifestyle intervention for adults with lung cancer were to: 1) determine rates of enrollment, attrition and completion of five nurse-patient contacts, 2) examine demographic characteristics of those more likely to enroll into the program, 3) determine acceptability of the intervention, an...

s: Thirty-Eighth Annual CTRC-AACR San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; December 8-12, 2015; San Antonio, TX Background: Young women with breast cancer need highly effective contraception given the potential implications of unplanned pregnancy for optimal treatment, and the teratogenic risks. We sought to determine the contraceptive methods used by...

Background: Young women with breast cancer face different challenges than those faced by older women because of their age and life stage, yet few studies have focused on the different challenges faced by women from diverse populations. Objective: To explore existing supports that are important during diagnosis and treatment and the unmet needs f...

Background: Response of parathyroid hormone (PTH) to vitamin D supplementation is determined by the baseline PTH level and change in vitamin D status. Conflicting reports in Blacks exist on the PTH response to vitamin D to supplementation. Methods: During 3 winters from 2007-2010, 328 healthy Blacks (median age, 51 years) living in Boston, MA we...

Background: Among adolescents and young adults (AYAs) in the United States, cancer is the leading cause of disease-related death. AYA survivors face numerous short- and long-term health and psychosocial issues, as well as increased risk for behavioral and lifestyle challenges, including poor diet, low physical activity (PA), and substance abuse. M...

The link between African-Americans' disproportionate rates of diabetes, obesity and vitamin D deficiency may be marked by C-peptide as an indicator of insulin secretion. We hypothesize that vitamin D supplementation will increase C-peptide, a marker of insulin secretion. During 3 winters from 2007-2010, 328 healthy African-Americans (median age, 51...

Background Advances in treatment have increased childhood cancer 5-year survival rates to greater than 80%. However, children previously treated with radiation are at significantly increased risk of developing subsequent neoplasms, the most common of which are skin cancers. The National Cancer Institute and Children’s Oncology Group have issued rec...

Background: Each year, approximately 11% of women diagnosed with breast cancer in the United States are 45 years of age or younger. These women have concerns specific to or accentuated by their age, including fertility-related concerns, and have higher rates of psychosocial distress than women diagnosed at older ages. Current guidelines recommend...

African-Americans have higher rates of obesity-associated chronic diseases. Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) shows an inverse association with obesity status. We investigated whether vitamin D supplementation changes body mass index (BMI). In total, 328 overweight African-Americans were enrolled over three consecutive winter periods (2007-2010)...

Background To determine whether exposure to a peer-led intervention focused on colorectal cancer (CRC) screening, physical activity, and multi-vitamin intake can lead to increased intentions to be screened for CRC once age eligible among adults under the age of 50. Methods Participants were residents of low-income housing sites, and CRC screening...

Introduction Hydrochlorothiazide, an effective antihypertensive medication commonly prescribed to blacks, decreases urinary calcium excretion. Blacks have significantly higher rates of hypertension and lower levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D. Thus, they are more likely to be exposed to vitamin D supplementation and thiazide diuretics. The risk for hype...

Background: Black men exhibit a high prevalence of vitamin D deficiency as well as a higher incidence of prostate cancer and higher mortality rates from prostate cancer than Whites. There are few data about the effect of vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol) supplementation on prostate-specific antigen (PSA) in healthy Black men. Methods: During three wi...

Promoting healthy behaviors may reduce the risk of co-morbidities among childhood and young adult (CYA) cancer survivors. Although behavioral interventions are one way to encourage such activities, there is increasing evidence that health media use-particularly health information seeking-also may influence health knowledge, beliefs, and behaviors....

Young women with newly diagnosed breast cancer face substantial challenges including higher risk of disease recurrence and likelihood of harboring a genetic mutation compared with older women. Many young women are also very concerned about their future fertility and this population often feels isolated from other breast cancer survivors due to thei...

Despite the fact that childhood and young adult cancer survivors are at increased risk for chronic health problems as a result of their cancer treatment, many use tobacco, thereby increasing their risks. Perceptions of risk related to tobacco use can be targeted for interventions aimed at improving health behaviors for childhood, adolescent, and yo...

To evaluate the effectiveness of the Healthy Directions 2 (HD2) intervention in the primary care setting. HD2 was a cluster randomized trial (conducted 3/09 - 11/11). Primary sampling unit was provider (n=33), with secondary sampling of patients within provider (n=2,440). Study arms included: 1) usual care (UC); 2) HD2-- a patient self-guided inter...

Cancer screening rates among Latinas are suboptimal. The objective of this study was to explore how Latinas perceive cancer screening and the use and design of interactive voice response (IVR) messages to prompt scheduling of 1 or more needed screenings. Seven focus groups were conducted with Latina community health center patients (n = 40) in need...

Association studies have suggested that lower circulating 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] in African Americans may partially underlie higher rates of cardiovascular disease and cancer in this population. Nonetheless, the relation between vitamin D supplementation and 25(OH)D concentrations in African Americans remains undefined. Our primary objective...

African-Americans have a disproportionate burden of inflammation-associated chronic diseases such as cancer and lower circulating levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D]. The effect of vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol) supplementation on inflammatory markers is uncertain. We conducted a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of supplemental...

Purpose: Young women with breast cancer suffer distress both at the time of diagnosis and afterwards. This study aimed to elucidate which issues are most disturbing to this population and which might be amenable to intervention. Methods: English-speaking women treated or involved in research at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute for stage I-III breas...

Background: Despite the growing penetration of the Internet, little is known about the usage and browsing patterns of those in poverty. We report on a randomized controlled trial that sheds light on the Internet use and browsing patterns among the urban poor. Methods: The data come from 312 participants in Boston, Massachusetts, from Click to Co...

Smoking among cancer survivors increases the risk of late effects and second cancers. This article reports on Partnership for Health-2 (PFH-2)-an effort to develop an effective and scalable version of Partnership for Health (PFH), which was a previously tested peer-delivered telephone counseling program that doubled smoking cessation rates among ch...

Importance: Few weight loss treatments produce clinically meaningful weight loss outcomes among black women, particularly in the primary care setting. New weight management strategies are necessary for this population. Weight gain prevention might be an effective treatment option, with particular benefits for overweight and class 1 obese black wom...

BACKGROUND The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force has released new guidelines on obesity, urging primary care physicians to provide obese patients with intensive, multi-component behavioral interventions. However, there are few studies of weight loss in real world nonacademic primary care, and even fewer in largely racial/ethnic minority, low-inco...

Smoking among childhood and young adult cancer survivors may increase risk for late effects of treatment, and survivors need assistance in quitting. This paper reports on the prevalence of discussions between childhood cancer survivors and their health care providers about smoking cessation and pharmacotherapy and explores factors that are associat...

Background: Many U.S. adults have multiple behavioral risk factors, and effective, scalable interventions are needed to promote population-level health. In the health care setting, interventions are often provided in print, although accessible to nearly everyone, are brief (e.g., pamphlets), are not interactive, and can require some logistics arou...

Introduction: Previous research has demonstrated that many women with ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) overestimate their risk for future breast cancer at the time of diagnosis and soon thereafter. This study aims to evaluate risk perceptions after 5 years. Patients and methods: In a longitudinal cohort study, we mailed long-term follow-up survey...

Blacks have significantly higher rates of hypertension than whites, and lower circulating levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D. There are few data about the effect of vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol) supplementation on blood pressure in blacks. During 2 winters from 2008 to 2010, 283 blacks (median age, 51 years) were randomized into a 4-arm, double-blind tri...

Obesity and hypertension and their associated health complications disproportionately affect communities of color and people of lower socioeconomic status. Recruitment and retention of these populations in research trials, and retention in weight loss trials has been an ongoing challenge. Be Fit, Be Well was a pragmatic randomized weight loss and h...

Alternatives to individual behavior change methods have been proposed, however, little has been done to investigate how these methods compare. To explore four methods that quantify change in multiple risk behaviors targeting four common behaviors. We utilized data from two cluster-randomized, multiple behavior change trials conducted in two setting...

Shared decision making (SDM) is a widely recommended yet unproven strategy for increasing colorectal cancer (CRC) screening uptake. Previous trials of decision aids to increase SDM and CRC screening uptake have yielded mixed results. To assess the impact of decision aid-assisted SDM on CRC screening uptake. RCT. The study was conducted at an urban,...

Objectives: We examined the association of Internet-related communication inequalities on human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine awareness and infection knowledge. Methods: We drew data from National Cancer Institute's 2007 Health Information National Trends Survey (n = 7674). We estimated multivariable logistic regression models to assess Internet...

. We examined cross-sectional relationships of social resources with health behaviors in adults ages 18–93 years. Methods . Baseline data from a 2009 risk behavior intervention trial were used to measure social resources, physical activity, and fruit and vegetable intake in 2,440 adults. To evaluate associations overall and within 4 age groups (18–...

Introduction: There has been exponential growth in diagnoses of ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) in the past decade, yet little is known about sexual functioning and body image in women after diagnosis of DCIS. This is of particular importance because many of the parallel treatment modalities also used to treat invasive breast cancer, e.g., surgery...

Self-monitoring is a key behavior change mechanism associated with sustained health behavior change. Although Web-based interventions can offer user-friendly approaches for self-monitoring, engagement with these tools is suboptimal. Increased use could encourage, promote, and sustain behavior change. To determine whether email prompts or email plus...

Prompting may promote engagement with behavior change interventions. Prompts can be delivered inexpensively via automated voice response (AVR) reminders or short message service (SMS) text messages. We examined the association between participants' characteristics and preferred reminder modality. Healthy Directions 2 is a cluster randomized control...

Many skin cancer screenings occur in non-traditional community settings, with the beach being an important setting due to beachgoers being at high risk for skin cancer. This study is a secondary analysis of data from a randomized trial of a skin cancer intervention in which participants (n = 312) had a full-body skin examination by a clinician and...

Effective dissemination and implementation (D&I) of evidence-based interventions (EBIs) assume that program strategies and methods will be conducted with "fidelity." Fidelity has been defined as the "extent to which the intervention was delivered as planned. It represents the quality and integrity of the intervention as conceived by the developers....

Few evidence-based weight loss treatment options exist for medically vulnerable patients in the primary care setting. We conducted a 2-arm, 24-month randomized effectiveness trial in 3 Boston community health centers (from February 1, 2008, through May 2, 2011). Participants were 365 obese patients receiving hypertension treatment (71.2% black, 13....

To identify patterns of Internet use among childhood and young adult cancer survivors who smoke. Baseline assessment data were collected from 2005 to 2008 for the Partnership for Health-2 (PFH-2) study, a web-based smoking cessation intervention for childhood and young adult cancer survivors. Participants were surveyed about their Internet access a...

Smoking cessation among cancer patients is critical for improving outcomes. Understanding factors associated with smoking abstinence after the diagnosis of cancer can provide direction to develop and test interventions to enhance cessation rates. The purpose of this study was to identify determinants of smoking outcomes among cancer patients. Stand...

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To examine adherence rates for multiple cancer screening tests, which will inform prevention efforts in community health centers (CHCs). We report on the prevalence of screening for multiple cancers (cervical, breast and colorectal) among 43,000 patients who are predominantly Hispanic, in four CHC sites that share an integrated electronic medical r...

Understanding factors that promote or prevent adherence to recommended health behaviors is essential for developing effective health programs, particularly among lower income populations who carry a disproportionate burden of disease. We conducted in-depth qualitative interviews (n = 64) with low-income Black and Latina women who shared the experie...

Background: Smoking cessation is essential after the diagnosis of cancer to enhance clinical outcomes. Although effective smoking-cessation treatments are available, <50% of smokers with cancer report receiving treatment. Reasons for the low dissemination of such treatment are unclear. Methods: Data were collected from questionnaires and medical...

Patient navigators may increase colorectal cancer (CRC) screening rates among adults in underserved communities, but prior randomized trials have been small or conducted at single sites and have not included substantial numbers of Haitian Creole-speaking or Portuguese-speaking patients. We identified 465 primary care patients from 4 community healt...

People of lower-socioeconomic position (SEP) and most racial/ethnic minorities face significant communication challenges which may negatively impact their health. Previous research has shown that these groups rely heavily on interpersonal sources to share and receive health information; however, little is known about these lay sources. The purpose...

Partnership for Health-2 (PFH-2) is a web-based version of Partnership for Health, an evidence-based smoking cessation intervention for childhood cancer survivors. This paper describes the PFH-2 intervention and baseline data collection. 374 childhood and young adult cancer survivors were recruited from five cancer centers and participated in the b...

To describe parents' attitudes toward pediatric genetic testing for common, adult-onset health conditions and to identify factors underlying these attitudes. Parents (n = 219) enrolled in a large, group-practice health plan were offered a "multiplex" genetic test for susceptibility to 8 common, adult-onset health conditions and completed an online...

Background: Research has demonstrated that many women with ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) overestimate their risk of future breast cancer events. However, no prior studies have evaluated risk perceptions in long-term follow-up. Methods: As part of a multicenter longitudinal cohort study, we mailed long-term follow-up surveys to 315 of 392 women wh...

There are limited data on the effectiveness of skin cancer prevention education and early detection programs at beaches. We evaluate 4 strategies for addressing skin cancer prevention in beach settings. This prospective study at 4 beaches included 4 intervention conditions: (1) education only; (2) education plus biometric feedback; (3) education pl...

We sought to examine the association between structural, functional, and normative social factors and physical activity among urban, low-income, racially/ethnically diverse adults. We conducted a baseline cross-sectional survey among residents of 12 low-income housing communities in metropolitan Boston, Massachusetts. Participants were also asked t...

Social media, and specifically social networking sites (SNSs), are emerging as an important platform for communication and health information exchange. Yet, despite the increase in popularity and use, only a limited number of empirical studies document which segments of the adult population are and are not using social networking sites and with wha...

This study assessed the relationship between area-level poverty and stage of breast cancer at diagnosis among low-income women when screening mammography was available at no cost. The authors identified women diagnosed with breast cancer from 1999 to 2005 through the Massachusetts Cancer Registry, and compared the odds of advanced stage disease for...

Purpose: The purpose of this abstract is to describe the recruitment and retention success of a double-blind, randomized-controlled vitamin D supplementation trial enrolling African American (AA), English-speaking participants between the ages of 30 and 80 in the Boston area. Background: This study addresses the critical areas of cancer prevention...

Aims: The aims of this study were to examine concordance between abstinence measures (7-day point prevalence (pp), continuous and categorical measures of abstinence) used in cessation research and determine whether there is a discrepancy between self-report and biochemical verification of abstinence in cancer patients. Methods: Data were collecte...

Aims: The aims of this study are to describe the type of smoking cessation interventions that patients with cancer receive after diagnosis, identify interest and preferences for participating in a cessation program, and examine factors associated with interest in participating in a cessation Methods: Data were collected from 160 smokers or recent...

This study examined the associations between social networks, social support, social cohesion, and perceived neighborhood safety among an ethnically diverse sample of 1352 residents living in 12 low-income public housing sites in Boston, Massachusetts. For males and females, social cohesion was associated with perceived safety. For males, a smaller...

To study informal skill transfer via staff networks as a complement to formal training among afterschool childcare providers implementing a health promotion program. Cross-sectional, sociometric network analysis. Boston Young Men's Christian Association (YMCA) afterschool programs implementing the iPLAY program. All 91 staff members at 20 sites wer...

The primary aim of this paper was to explore whether provider's understanding of patient's social context is associated with screening uptake, independent of provider's recommendation. Baseline data were collected in 2004-2005 from a cluster randomized control trial in 12 low-income housing sites. Participants included 695 low-income, multiethnic a...

A large body of literature suggests that socioeconomic status (SES) is positively associated with mental and physical health. However, little research has examined the impact of SES on psychological adjustment after a major stressor. The current study examined whether SES (education and financial status) was associated with distress (anxiety and de...

Since 1990, the National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program (BCCEDP) has funded breast cancer screening and diagnostic services for low-income, underinsured women. Case management was implemented in 2001 to address barriers to follow-up after an abnormal mammogram, and free treatment was introduced in 2004. However, the effect of th...

Eliciting patients' preferences within a framework of shared decision making (SDM) has been advocated as a strategy for increasing colorectal cancer (CRC) screening adherence. Our objective was to assess the effectiveness of a novel decision aid on SDM in the primary care setting. An interactive, computer-based decision aid for CRC screening was de...

Translating research evidence to reduce health disparities has emerged as a global priority. The 2008 World Health Organization Commission on Social Determinants of Health recently urged that gaps in health attributable to political, social, and economic factors should be closed in a generation. Achieving this goal requires a social determinants ap...