The Patient-Oriented Cancer Survivorship Research Group
Mission
The Patient-Oriented Cancer Survivorship Research Group is comprised of a group of researchers who have come together to create a sustainable, externally funded line of research exploring the physical, psychological, functional, and social effects of cancer. We conduct randomized controlled clinical trials, descriptive studies, and health service research with the goals of understanding and improving the health, quality of care, and quality of life of persons and families living with cancer. Our focus is on the experience of anyone affected by cancer, including the persons diagnosed with the disease and their friends and family members. Our research extends along the diverging continuums of diagnosis to disease-free survivorship or life with cancer through death and bereavement. We seek to promote improvements in treatment and service delivery and contribute to reducing the morbidity and mortality of cancer at levels of the individual and population.
Our group comprises scholars from a range of disciplines including psychology, nursing, medicine, social work, and rehabilitation. We utilize diverse research methods in our work, drawing from both quantitative and qualitative paradigms. Our projects are designed to learn from and serve the rural population that receives care through Norris Cotton Cancer Center and its regional affiliates. Through our research, we seek to make good use of the prominence of Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center and the Dartmouth-Hitchcock Alliance and affiliate providers to improve access and quality of care and efficiency of health systems in northern New England.
Examples of our current projects include:
Preserving function in rural breast cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy (NCI, PI: Hegel): Randomized controlled trial to test feasibility of a problem-solving intervention to improve function for women with breast cancer.
Improving palliative care for patients with cancer (NCI, PI: Hegel): Randomized controlled trial testing a multi-faceted educational and supportive palliative care intervention.
A Phone-Delivered Behavioral Activation/Problem Solving Intervention to Enhance Role Function Recovery and QOL in "At-Risk" Breast Cancer Patients Following Cancer Treatment (NCI, CALGB, PI: Hegel): A Phase II study to assess the feasibility of a psychosocial skills training intervention to assist breast cancer survivors to regain valued activities and role function following successful cancer treatment.
Functional recovery after bone marrow transplantation (Hitchcock Foundation, PI: Lyons): Descriptive study of activity engagement, sleep quality, fatigue, and quality of life after stem cell transplantation.