Oncology Researchers of the Indiana University Schools of Nursing and Medicine Present in Venice, Italy

Dr. Joan Haase, PhD, RN, Holmquist Professor in Pediatric Oncology Nursing

INDIANAPOLIS – A contingent of oncology researchers from the Indiana University Schools of Nursing and Medicine, led by Dr. Joan Haase, PhD, RN, Holmquist Professor in Pediatric Oncology Nursing at the IU School of Nursing, presented two different symposia in Venice, Italy at the 8th World Congress of Psycho-Oncology, October 18-21, 2006. The IU oncology researchers focused on what Indiana University is doing in oncology research and the impact their efforts have made on the healthcare of citizens of Indiana and beyond. Over 1,347 researchers attended at the conference representing 58 different countries.

The first symposium focused on a music video intervention aimed at improving resilience in adolescents and young adults receiving stem cell transplants for cancer, the SMART study. Specifically, the symposium provided a 360-degree view of the start-up of this multi-site study, which is jointly funded by the National Institute of Nursing Research (NINR)/National Institutes of Health and National Cancer Institute (NCI)/NIH and Children’s Oncology Group (COG).

The five papers presented were:

Theoretical Synergy to Enhance Positive Adjustment to Cancer: The Haase Resilience in Illness Model and Robb’s Contextual Model of Music Therapy, Joan Haase PhD, RN and Sheri Robb, PhD, MT-BC; Messages in the Music: AYA and Parent Perspectives of the TMV Intervention, Debra Burns, PhD, MT- BC; Lessons Learned from Interdisciplinary Collaboration to Implement Behavioral Interventions within a Cooperative Group, Paul Haut, MD; Is There A Better Way?: Comparison of Human Subjects Requirements and Timelines Across Six Sites, Kat McCorkle, MPH; and, Development and Use of Remote Web-based Data Entry for AYA Self-Report Measures, Study Quality Assurance, and Reports, Beverly Musick.

The second symposium presented findings from a National Cancer Institute-funded study on the Quality of Life of African American Women Survivors of Breast Cancer by Kathleen Russell, DNS, RN, PI, NCI funded R-03.

Five papers were presented:

Not Encompassing My Experiences, Joan Haase, PhD, RN; A Litany of Symptoms and Their Effects on Quality of Life of African-American Breast Cancer Survivors, and The Process of Becoming A Breast Cancer Survivor, Kathleen Russell, DNS, RN; Surviving Poor Communication, Kim Wagler Ziner, PhD(c), RN; and, I’ve Been Through Something-Poetic Explorations of African American Women’s Cancer Survivorship, Wendy Carter Kooken, PhD(c), RN.

According to Dr. Haase, “The music therapy to enhance resilience study is the first behavioral intervention study to be funded through the Children’s Oncology Group, a consortium of pediatric cancer care providers throughout North America, New Zealand, and Australia, so conference participants were especially eager to learn of this model of ways to conduct such research involving many disciplines across many research sites. The papers presented in the Quality of Life of African American Women Breast Cancer Survivors symposium provided very important information to help health care providers gain understanding of the culturally important experiences of survivorship for African American women.”

The international focus and collaborations developed at congresses such as this one are an important step forward for psycho-oncology and represents a further opportunity to work together in creating links throughout the world to improve the care of cancer patients and their families.

“Joan and her colleagues are to be commended for sharing their research about the moving experiences of adults and children with cancer with the world…and within such an interdisciplinary approach,” said Marion E. Broome, PhD, RN, FAAN, university dean and distinguished professor of the IU School of Nursing. “Interdisciplinary and international collaborations are key to the success of the health sciences research programs at Indiana University.”

For more information about oncology research contact Dr. Joan Haase at 317-274-2982.

To learn more about the IU School of Nursing, visit http://nursing.iupui.edu/.