About
247
Publications
26,092
Reads
How we measure 'reads'
A 'read' is counted each time someone views a publication summary (such as the title, abstract, and list of authors), clicks on a figure, or views or downloads the full-text. Learn more
13,941
Citations
Introduction
Additional affiliations
January 1995 - January 2017
Position
- Professor/ Director/Editor in Chief - Translational Behavioral Medicine
January 1996 - December 2015
Position
- Professor /Director/Editor in Chief Translational Behavioral Medicine
January 1996 - December 2015
Position
- Professor/ Director/ Editor in Chief- Translational Behavioral Medicine
Publications
Publications (247)
246
Background: Individuals with cancer may seek assistance from co-pay assistance programs (CAPs) to help with high medication costs. However, little is known about these individuals’ perspectives on medication costs and their associations with other patient-reported outcomes (PROs). Methods: From 10-11/2022, we conducted a national, cross-section...
Background
Individuals with cancer and other medical conditions often experience financial concerns from high costs-of-care and may utilize copay assistance programs (CAP). We sought to describe CAP recipients’ experiences/preferences for cost discussions with clinicians.
Methods
We conducted a national, cross-sectional electronic-survey from 10/2...
11062
Background: Individuals with cancer may seek assistance from co-pay assistance programs (CAPs) to help with high medication costs. However, little is known about these individuals’ perspectives on medication costs and their associations with other patient-reported outcomes (PROs). Methods: From 10-11/2022, we conducted a national, cross-secti...
BACKGROUND
Cervical cancer disparities persist among urban, minoritized women due to infrequent screening and poor follow-up.
OBJECTIVE
To solicit feedback from clinic staff and patients referred for colposcopy regarding an adapted mHealth intervention to address barriers and improve colposcopy attendance among those referred after abnormal screen...
Adjuvant endocrine therapy (AET) is pivotal for hormone receptor-positive breast cancer patients, significantly enhancing survival rates. Yet, adherence to AET remains challenging due to side effects. This study delves into the lived experience of breast cancer survivors concerning AET-induced side effects and examines differences in symptom profil...
Challenges in ensuring adherence to colposcopy and follow-up recommendations, particularly within underserved communities, hinder the delivery of appropriate care. Informed by our established evidence-based program, we sought to assess the feasibility and acceptability of a novel cognitive-affective intervention delivered through a Chatbot interfac...
Objectives
The aims of the study are to examine the perception of the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine among those with and without a history of cervical dysplasia and to examine perceptions of the vaccine for their children.
Materials and Methods
Patients were recruited to complete a survey about the HPV vaccine for both themselves and their ch...
310
Background: Patients with cancer often experience financial concerns and may seek help from copay assistance programs (CAPs). We sought to describe CAP recipients’ experiences and preferences for cost discussions. Methods: From 10-11/2022, we conducted a national, cross-sectional survey of CAP recipients with a cancer diagnosis or autoimmune co...
Objective
Type 1 endometrial cancer (EC) survivors who are overweight or obese are at increased risk of comorbidities and reduced quality of life. Lifestyle modification interventions (e.g., healthy eating, exercise) may help these women reduce excess weight and improve their quality of life. However, existing interventions have shown limited succe...
Introduction: This pilot study tested the feasibility and acceptability of a low-resource-intensive scalable online communication training designed to improve oncologists' skills in prognostic and value-concordant care discussions with advanced cancer patients. Methods: The training consisted of on-demand videos on how to convey prognostic informat...
We conducted a nationwide, randomized controlled trial to evaluate the impact of Healing Choices, a novel interactive education and treatment decision program rooted in the self-regulation theory framework, on decisional conflict and psychological distress at 2-month post-intervention in women with early-stage breast cancer. Patients were randomize...
Background:
Bladder cancer survivors and their caregivers face profound practical (eg, use of stoma appliances and care for urinary diversion methods) and psychosocial (eg, depression and anxiety) challenges after surgical treatment with cystectomy.
Objective:
To improve the health-related quality of life and postsurgical outcomes of both bladde...
6647
Background: High healthcare costs can pose a barrier to access and contribute to financial hardship among patients with cancer. Charitable co-pay assistance (CPA) foundations provide financial support to patients facing high out-of-pocket costs, but little is known about the sociodemographic characteristics, financial burdens, views and experi...
Objective:
Attendance to colposcopy after abnormal cervical cancer screening is essential to cervical cancer prevention. This qualitative study explored patients' understanding of screening results, their experiences of the time leading up to the colposcopy appointment, and colposcopy.
Methods:
We recruited women referred for colposcopy from two...
BACKGROUND
Elicitation of patients’ preferences is an integral part of shared decision making, the recommended approach for prostate cancer decision making. However, existing decision aids for this population do not specifically focus on patients’ preferences. Healium is a brief interactive web-based decision aid that aims to elicit patient’s treat...
Background
Elicitation of patients’ preferences is an integral part of shared decision-making, the recommended approach for prostate cancer decision-making. Existing decision aids for this population often do not specifically focus on patients’ preferences. Healium is a brief interactive web-based decision aid that aims to elicit patients’ treatmen...
Purpose
Breast cancer in women is the most commonly diagnosed cancer. Adjuvant endocrine therapy (AET) showed consistent improvements in recurrence and survival rates. Adherence to adjuvant endocrine therapy remains essential for improving overall survival in women with hormone receptor (HR) positive breast cancer. However, early discontinuation of...
Background For women with hormone receptor-positive breast cancer (BCa), approximately 75-80% of all BCa cases, long-term use of endocrine therapy has been demonstrated to improve disease free survival. However, data reported that non-adherence rates range from 28% to 59%, and African American (AA) women had lower odds of being adherent to endocrin...
BACKGROUND
Bladder cancer survivors and their caregivers face profound practical (eg, use of stoma appliances and care for urinary diversion methods) and psychosocial (eg, depression and anxiety) challenges after surgical treatment with cystectomy.
OBJECTIVE
To improve the health-related quality of life and postsurgical outcomes of both bladder ca...
Objectives: To examine the perception and beliefs of the human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine amongst those with and without a history of cervical dysplasia and to examine perceptions of the HPV vaccine for their children.
Methods: Patients in a large urban academic hospital visiting two gynecology clinics were recruited to complete a paper survey as...
Purpose:
Underserved Black and Hispanic/Latinx women show low rates of follow-up care after an abnormal Pap test, despite the fact that cervical cancer is one of the few preventable cancers if detected early. However, extant literature falls short on efficacious interventions to increase follow-up for this population. A concurrent mixed methods st...
Background
Many prostate cancer (PC) survivors experience disease and treatment-related symptomatology in both the physical and psychosocial domains. Although the benefits and barriers to using web-based resources for cancer patients are well-documented, less research has focused on the personal characteristics important for efficient tailoring and...
Objectives
Prostate cancer (PCa) survivors report poor physical functioning alongside negative psychological outcomes as they cope with treatment side effects and practical concerns after treatment completion. This study evaluated PROGRESS, a web‐based intervention designed to improve adaptive coping among PCa survivors.
Methods
Localized PCa pati...
BACKGROUND
Many prostate cancer (PC) survivors experience disease and treatment-related symptomatology in both the physical and psychosocial domains. Although the benefits and barriers to using web-based resources for cancer patients are well-documented, less research has focused on the personal characteristics important for efficient tailoring and...
PurposeIndividuals who completed treatment for prostate cancer (PCa) often report poor coping and practical concerns when adapting to new roles in their lives—and strong patient–provider communication is critical for this period. However, there is limited research identifying factors associated with supportive needs after the completion of PCa trea...
The year 2020 will certainly be remembered as a time of great change for the health and well-being of the entire population in the US, and around the globe. The pandemic caused by the novel coronavirus and COVID19 are stark reminders of how vitally important it is for clinicians, researchers, and policymakers to all come together in the interest of...
Objectives
Despite health risks for themselves and their children, urban underserved women smoke at high rates postpartum. The postpartum period is a stressful transition time that presents unique barriers to sustained cessation. There is limited extant evidence of efficacious psychosocial programs to maintain postpartum smoking cessation.Methods
G...
We describe an iterative three-phase approach used to develop a cancer survivorship health-coaching intervention to guide self-management and follow-up care for post-treatment breast, colorectal, and prostate cancer survivors. Informed by theory (e.g., Cognitive-Social Health Information Processing Model (C-SHIP)), relevant literature, and clinical...
Over the past decade, diabetes prevalence has risen even more rapidly in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) than in high-income countries (HICs). Globally, diabetes was the seventh leading cause of death in 2016 [1]. It is estimated that four out of five people with diabetes now live in LMICs and the top two LMICs with the largest number of p...
Objective:
The aim of this study is to describe a user-centered (e.g., cancer survivors and clinicians) development process of an eHealth tool designed to facilitate self-management of cancer survivorship follow-up care.
Methods:
Guided by Cognitive-Social Health Information Processing (C-SHIP) model and informed by core self-management skills,...
e23061
Background: Substantial evidence reports that adjuvant hormone therapy (AHT) decrease breast cancer (BCa) recurrence and mortality, however, many patients are nonadherent due to troublesome side effects. The goal of this pilot study is to test a novel mobile text messaging-based intervention ( TXT2Adhere) that delivers adherence-promoting an...
Background
Breast, colorectal, and prostate cancer survivors are at increased risk for late and long-term effects post-treatment. The post-treatment phase of care is often poorly coordinated and survivors navigate follow-up care with minimal information or guidance from their healthcare team. This manuscript describes the Extended Cancer Education...
Men diagnosed with early stage prostate cancer face multiple treatment options, each with distinctive side effects that have significant implications for post-treatment quality of life. Healing Choices for Men with Prostate Cancer is a multimedia educational and decision aid program. This nation-wide randomized controlled trial evaluated the impact...
The Gleason scoring system is a key component of a prostate cancer diagnosis, since it indicates disease aggressiveness. It also serves as a risk communication tool that facilitates shared treatment decision-making. However, the system is highly complex and therefore difficult to communicate: factors which have been shown to undermine well-informed...
In Reply In the spirit of science and patient-centered care, we refute Berk’s claims.
Importance:
Cancer-related fatigue (CRF) remains one of the most prevalent and troublesome adverse events experienced by patients with cancer during and after therapy.
Objective:
To perform a meta-analysis to establish and compare the mean weighted effect sizes (WESs) of the 4 most commonly recommended treatments for CRF-exercise, psychological,...
Objective:
African American (AA) women have disproportionately high rates of cardiovascular (CV) risk factors that, coupled with potentially cardiotoxic breast cancer (BC) therapies, place them at risk of adverse CV outcomes. The purpose of this study was to assess CV risk factors among white and AA BC survivors and perceptions of patient-provider...
Objectives:
This study aimed to identify cognitive-affective predictors of adherence to initial diagnostic colposcopy and 6-month follow-up recommendations among underserved women.
Methods:
A secondary data analysis was completed of a randomized clinical trial assessing tailored telephone counseling for colposcopy adherence after an abnormal scr...
Objective:
Patient activation is associated with improved outcomes among the chronically ill. This study aims to identify factors associated with patient activation in breast and prostate cancer survivors.
Methods:
Cross-sectional data were analyzed from cancer survivors diagnosed with Stage I or II breast and prostate cancers who completed trea...
Background:
Korean American women have among the lowest rates of cervical cancer screening in the United States. The authors evaluated a multicomponent intervention combining community education with navigation services to reduce access barriers and increase screening rates in this underserved population. It was hypothesized that cervical cancer s...
Despite conflicting guidelines, a significant subset of high-risk men decide to undergo routine prostate cancer screening. Yet, there is a scarcity of available programs, and no studies evaluating interventions to support men in dealing with the psychosocial impact of screening. In this study, one of the first to explore the responses of high-risk...
Purpose
Patient-physician relationships impact health care seeking and preventive screening behaviors among patients. At the end of active treatment some cancer survivors report feeling disconnected from their care team. This study explores cancer survivors’ experiences of patient-centered cancer follow-up care provided by primary care physicians (...
This comprehensive reference delves into the complex process of medical decision making-both the nuts-and-bolts access and insurance issues that guide choices and the cognitive and affective factors that can make patients decide against their best interests. Wide-ranging coverage offers a robust evidence base for understanding decision making acros...
Objective:
To evaluate gynecologic oncology patients' perceptions and willingness to participate in randomized clinical trials (RCT) among an inner city population.
Methods:
Informed consent was obtained. Demographics were collected and willingness to participate in a RCT was measured by the Attitudes on Randomized Trials Questionnaire (ARTQ). T...
Purpose
The decision to enroll in a clinical trial is complex given the uncertain risks and benefits of new approaches. Many patients also have financial concerns. We sought to characterize the association between financial concerns and the quality of decision making about clinical trials.
Methods
We conducted a secondary data analysis of a random...
Purpose:
Lack of knowledge and negative attitudes have been identified as barriers to participation in clinical trials by patients with cancer. We developed Preparatory Education About Clinical Trials (PRE-ACT), a theory-guided, Web-based, interactive computer program, to deliver tailored video educational content to patients in an effort to overc...
Participation in cancer prevention trials (CPT) is lower than 3 % among high-risk healthy individuals, and racial/ethnic minorities are the most under-represented. Novel recruitment strategies are therefore needed. Online health risk assessment (HRA) serves as a gateway component of nearly all employee wellness programs (EWPs) and may be a missed o...
This study evaluated a theory-guided cognitive-behavioral counseling (CBC) intervention for smoking cessation during pregnancy and postpartum. It also explored the mediating role of cognitive-affective variables on the impact of CBC. Underserved inner city pregnant women (N = 277) were randomized to the CBC or a best practice (BP) condition, each o...
Objective: Cancer patients and survivors are assuming active roles in decision-making and digital patient support tools are widely used to facilitate patient engagement. As part of Cancer Information Service Research Consortium's randomized controlled trials focused on the efficacy of eHealth interventions to promote informed treatment decision-mak...
Background
Prostate cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in men in the US, and the second most prevalent cancer in men worldwide. High incidence and survival rates for prostate cancer have resulted in a large and growing population of long-term prostate cancer survivors. Long-term follow-up guidelines have only recently been developed to in...
This formative research study describes the development and preliminary evaluation of a theory-guided, online multimedia psycho-educational program (PROGRESS) designed to facilitate adaptive coping among prostate cancer patients transitioning from treatment into long-term survivorship.
Guided by the Cognitive-Social Health Information Processing Mo...
Obese breast cancer survivors (BCSs) are impacted by diminished quality of life (QOL), multiple comorbid conditions, and poor disease outcomes. Despite national guidelines recommending a healthy weight to improve QOL and outcomes posttreatment, support and education are not routinely provided to BCSs in primary care. To fill this gap, we assessed p...
Cancer survivors engage in cancer screenings and protective health behaviors at suboptimal rates despite their increased risk for future illness. Survivorship care plans and other educational strategies to prepare cancer survivors to adopt engaged roles in managing long-term follow-up care and health risks are needed. In a sample of cancer survivor...
Low-income, inner-city women bear a disproportionate burden of cervical cancer in both incidence and mortality rates in the United States, largely because of low adherence to follow-up recommendations after an abnormal cervical cytology result in the primary care setting. The goals of the present study were to delineate the theory-based psychosocia...
To characterize the barriers and facilitators thatprevent postpartum relapse and maintain smoking abstinence among a socioeconomically underserved population, recruited through Philadelphia-area women, infants, and children clinics, in-person interviews were conducted with 30 women who had quit smoking for one or more pregnancies in the past 3 year...
Objective:
This article describes the rigorous development process and initial feedback of the PRE-ACT (Preparatory Education About Clinical Trials) web-based- intervention designed to improve preparation for decision making in cancer clinical trials.
Methods:
The multi-step process included stakeholder input, formative research, user testing an...
Purpose:
Lymphedema affects 20-30% of women following breast cancer treatment. However, even when women are informed, they do not necessarily adhere to recommended lymphedema self-management regimens. Utilizing the Cognitive-Social Health Information Processing framework, we assessed the cognitive and emotional factors influencing adherence to lym...
Underserved women are at high risk for smoking relapse after childbirth due to their unique socioeconomic and postpartum stressors and barriers. Mobile text messaging technology allows delivery of relapse prevention programs targeted to their personal needs over time.
To describe the development of a social-cognitive theory-based and evidence-guide...
Although African American (AA) men are at elevated risk for prostate cancer, medical guidelines do not present consistent screening recommendations for this group. However, all guidelines stress the need for screening decision making with a provider. This study evaluated the effectiveness of a brochure for the female partners of AA men, designed to...
Building on the Cognitive-Social Health Information-Processing model, this paper provides a theoretically guided review of monitoring (i.e., attend to and amplify) cancer-related threats. Specifically, the goals of the review are to examine whether individuals high on monitoring are characterized by specific cognitive, affective, and behavioral res...
Patient participation in cancer clinical trials is low. Little is known about attitudinal barriers to participation, particularly among patients who may be offered a trial during an imminent initial oncology consult. The aims of the present study were to confirm the presence of proposed subscales of a recently developed cancer clinical trial attitu...
This study used the Ottawa Decision Support Framework to evaluate a model examining associations between clinical trial knowledge, attitudinal barriers to participating in clinical trials, clinical trial self-efficacy, and clinical trial preparedness among 1256 cancer patients seen for their first outpatient consultation at a cancer center. As an e...
Purpose: For cancer patients offered clinical trials, treatment decisions may be especially complex as trials pose uncertain risks and benefits of new approaches. Many patients also have financial concerns, including those regarding insurance coverage. We hypothesize that financial concerns may affect a patient’s ability to make an informed, patien...
In an effort to standardize behavioral measures and their data representation, the present study develops a methodology for incorporating measures found in the National Cancer Institute's (NCI) grid-enabled measures (GEM) portal, a repository for behavioral and social measures, into the cancer data standards registry and repository (caDSR).
The met...
The present study explored the impact of a tailored telephone counseling intervention on increasing follow-up adherence after an abnormal Pap smear result among low-income, minority women, which may reduce cervical cancer disparity.
Participants (N=211) were randomly assigned to receive: (1) a telephone reminder that included an assessment of barri...
Breast cancer is a significant health concern for African American women. Nonetheless, uptake of genetic risk assessment (including both genetic counseling and testing) for breast cancer gene mutations among these populations remains low. This paper systematically reviews cognitive (i.e., beliefs) and affective (i.e., emotions) factors influencing...
6500
Background: Cancer patients (pts) have knowledge and attitudinal barriers to participation in clinical trials (CT). We developed PRE-ACT (Preparatory Education About Clinical Trials), a tailored, interactive, web-based intervention to address these barriers and improve preparation for consideration of CT as a treatment option. Methods: We cond...
Purpose
When faced with a significant recruitment challenge for three nationwide psychoeducational trials targeting prostate and breast cancer patients, the Cancer Information Service Research Consortium initiated outreach efforts to increase accrual. Recruitment is reported by major outreach strategy to inform the use of similar campaigns, either...
Background:
Cancer patients and their oncologists often report differing perceptions of consultation discussions and discordant expectations regarding treatment outcomes. CONNECT, a computer-based communication aid, was developed to improve communication between patients and oncologists.
Methods:
CONNECT includes assessment of patient values, go...
Cancer clinical trials (CCTs) are important tools in the development of improved cancer therapies; yet, participation is low. Key psychosocial barriers exist that appear to impact a patient's decision to participate. Little is known about the relationship among knowledge, self-efficacy, preparation, decisional conflict, and patient decisions to tak...
The authors describe 3 large randomized trials from the Cancer Information Service Research Consortium. Three web-based multimedia programs are being tested to help newly diagnosed prostate (Project 1) and breast cancer patients (Project 2) make informed treatment decisions and breast cancer patients prepare for life after treatment (Project 3). Pr...
This study reports a randomized clinical trial evaluating the efficacy of an intervention to prepare individuals to communicate BRCA1/BRCA2 results to family members. Women aged 18 years and older, who had genetic testing, and who had adult first-degree relatives, were randomly assigned to a communication skills-building intervention or a wellness...
Introduction: Lymphedema arising from breast cancer surgery and treatment is characterized by arm impairment, physical disfigurement, emotional distress and diminished quality of life. Given no specific lymphedema cure, early detection and risk management strategies are recommended. The American Cancer Society (ACS) identifies simple behavioral str...