The Research Committee at Life with Cancer works to evaluate the needs of patients and families at all points along the cancer experience continuum, to monitor the effectiveness of ongoing programs, and to use data from these efforts to develop innovative interventions to improve the lives of cancer patients, survivors and their caregivers. Research activities often involve healthcare professionals including nurses and social workers, as well as survivors, their families and organizations that support cancer survivorship.

• Projects Completed
• Projects Underway
• Funded Research
• Publications
• Manuscripts in Progress
• National Presentations

All research conducted at Life with Cancer is in compliance with policies and procedures of the Inova Health System Institutional Review Board (IRB) including adherence to the requirement stating all staff participating in research at Life with Cancer will have human participant protection certification.

To learn more about research at Life with Cancer, please contact:

Paul G. Clark, PhD, LCSW
703-776-8779
paul.clark@inova.org

Projects Completed

• Reducing Psychological Distress in the Inpatient Oncology Treatment Setting Using Flex Care™: An Intervention Study. (2009)
• Providing Support to Secondary Cancer Survivors at Loved One’s Time of Death: Results of a Five-year Study. (2006)
• Screening for Psychological Distress in the Inpatient Oncology Setting. (2006)

Projects Underway

• Assessing the Reliability and Validity of the Knowledge,  Comfort, Attitude and Approach of Sexuality Scale (KCAAS) for Oncology Social Workers. Evaluating a scale and data collected to assess the reliability and validity of measuring oncology social workers needs as it relates to their knowledge, comfort, attitude and approach of sexuality in persons with cancer. 
• A Randomized, Four-Arm Study Comparing Reiki, Yoga, Meditation, or Patient Education Group for Addressing Symptoms of Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy (CIPN).
• The Impact of Reiki on Stress, Pain, Energy, Anxiety& Physical Condition

:: Back to top ::

Funded Research

• (Awarded July 2009). Project 6C: Improving Adjuvant Oral Drug Adherence among Diverse Patients with Limited Health Literacy. Funding for $48,500 for two years from the Mason-Inova Life Sciences Research Collaboration Fund.
• (2009). A Randomized, Four-Arm Study Comparing Reiki, Yoga, Meditation or Patient Education Group for Addressing Symptoms of Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy (Principal Investigator). Funding for one year at $17,300 from the George Mason University Center for Consciousness and Transformation.
•  (2006). My Navigator: An Online Program for Young Adults with Cancer. Funding for one year at $10,000 from the Lance Armstrong Foundation.

:: Back to top ::

Publications

• Abell, M., Davey, T., & Clark, P. (2009). Community case management intervention for
  hard-to-place homeless families leaving emergency shelter. Families in Society (submitted).
• Bolte, S. (2003). Contemplation for the busy oncology social worker:  A quick guide for being in
  touch with the deeper meaning of your life. Association of Oncology Social Workers Newsletter, August.
• Bolte, S. (2005).  Survivor guilt: The impact on group dynamics.  Association of Oncology Social Work
  Newsletter, Spring/Summer.
• Bolte, S. (2005). The asexual myth.  Journal of Psychosocial Oncology request to submit abstract and presentation of The Asexual Myth presented at the AOSW 2005 Conference as a manuscript.
• Bolte, S. (2006). Sexuality and spirituality. INOVA Health System Chaplain Partnership Newsletter, November.
• Bolte, S. (2007). Sexuality and cancer. Life with Cancer Patient and Partner Education Newsletter, Spring.
• Bolte, S. & Zebrack, B. (2008). Sexual issues in special populations: Adolescents and young adults. Seminars in Oncology Nursing. 24:2, 115-119.
• Cagle, J. & Bolte, S. (2009). Sexuality and life threatening illness: Implications for social work and palliative care. Health and Social Work, 34;3, 223-233.
• Cramer, E. P., & Clark, P. G. (2006). Evaluation of the cut out domestic violence program in Virginia. Family Violence and Sexual Assault Bulletin.
• Cohen, E. & Cawthorne, L. (2004) Development of Low Literacy, Multicultural Teaching Sheets In a Diverse Community Based Health System. Oncology Nursing Forum.
• Cohen, E & McBride, D (2009). Misuse of Social Networking May Have Ethical Implications for Nurses. A Closer Look, ONS Connect, July 2009, 17.
• Connor, C. (2008), Coping with late effects: the challenge of childhood cancer survivorship, Life with Cancer Patient Newsletter, Summer.
• Cortese-Jimenez, G. (June 2008). Complementary and alternative modalities enrich oncology nursing. Oncology Nursing Society Complementary & Integrative Therapies. 16(2).
• Gnesdiloff, S. (2004/05). What is Reiki? Reiki is wooonnderfuull! Association of Oncology Social Workers Newsletter, 20(2) Winter.
• Gnesdiloff, S., Boyle, D., Blodgett, L. et al. (2000). Caregiver quality of life after autologous bone marrow transplantation. Cancer Nursing. 23(3):193-203; quiz 204-5.   
• Gnesdiloff, S.,  Boyle, D. & Cawthorne, L. (1999). Complementary and alternative therapies in cancer nursing practice: A primer. Innovations in Breast Cancer Nursing, 4(4):111-120.
• Cohen, E., McBride, D. (2009). Misuse of social networking may have ethical implications for nurses. Oncology Nursing Society Connect, July.
• McDaniel, J. G., & Clark, P. G. (2009). The new adult orphan: Issues and considerations for care providers. Journal of Gerontological Nursing (in press).

:: Back to top ::

Manuscripts in Progress

• Clark, P. G (in progress). Reducing psychological distress in the inpatient oncology treatment setting using Flex Care™: An intervention study.
• Clark, P. G., Gnesdiloff, S.,  Brethwaite, D. S., (in progress). Providing support to secondary cancer survivors at loved one’s time of death: Results of a five-year study.
• Clark, P. G., Brethwaite, D. S., & Rochon, E. (in progress). Screening for psychological distress in the inpatient oncology setting.

:: Back to top ::

National Presentations

• Bolte, S. & Diaz, L. (2003). Honestly, how do you meditate? International Conference of the
  Association of Oncology Social Work.
• Bolte, S. (2004). The impact of cancer on sexuality and sexual function. Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Rochester, NY. 
• Bolte, S. (2004). Sex matters: The impact of lupus on sexuality and intimacy. Lupus Mid-Atlantic Foundation Patient Education Day, Baltimore, MD.
• Bolte, S. (2004). Sex matters: The impact of Parkinson’s Disease on sexuality and intimacy. The
  Johns Hopkins Parkinson’s Disease and Movement Disorder Center Patient Education Symposium, Baltimore, MD.
• Bolte, S. (2004). Addressing and assessing the impact of chronic illness on sexuality. The Society for Social Work Leadership in Healthcare Annual Conference.
• Bolte, S. (2004). Managing stress. Lupus Mid-Atlantic Foundation Patient Education Day, Baltimore, MD.
• Bolte, S. (2005). The asexual myth: Innovative technique to assess and identify sexuality and
  sexual health issues in our patients. International Conference of the Association of Oncology Social Work.
• Bolte, S. (2005). Keeping intimacy alive! Managing relationships in the midst of Parkinson’s Disease. National Parkinson’s Foundation Young Onset Parkinson’s Disease Symposium.
• Bolte, S. (2005). Assessing sexuality and intimacy in our patients. Avera Cancer Institute’s Annual Oncology Physician's Conference. Avera Cancer Institute, Sioux Falls, SD.
• Bolte, S. (2005). The impact of cancer on sexuality and intimacy. Avera McKennan Cancer Institute. Sioux Falls, SD.
• Bolte, S. (2005). The impact of cancer on sexuality and intimacy. The Leukemia Lymphoma Society,  Group Facilitator Training Conference, Miami, FL.
• Bolte, S. (2006). It’s not just about s-e-x: Paving the way for oncology social workers to integrate
  sexuality into quality of life screening. Association of Oncology Social Work National Conference, Minneapolis, MN.
• Bolte, S. (2006). Sex matters: The impact of cancer and its treatments on young adult cancer survivors. Camp MakADream, MT.
• Bolte, S. (2006). Sexuality and intimacy. Young Survival Coalition International Teleconference.
• Bolte, S. (2006). Love well! The impact Parkinson Disease and treatments have on sexuality and intimacy. Parkinson Disease, Pittsburgh Chapter, Pittsburgh, PA.   
• Bolte, S. (2007). Assessing sexuality, intimacy and relationships in persons with cancer: A direct
  practice approach.  The Leukemia Lymphoma Society’s Group Facilitator Training Conference.
• Bolte, S. (2007). How to get your groove back: Dating after breast cancer. Young Survival Coalition Conference.
• Bolte, S. (2007). Living with metastatic breast cancer: For women three years and beyond diagnosis. Young Survival Coalition Conference.  
• Bolte, S. (2007). Assessing the reliability and validity of a scale to assess oncology social
  workers’ knowledge, comfort, approach and attitude toward sexuality in persons with cancer. Association of Oncology Social Work National Conference.
• Bolte, S. (2007). To hot a topic? Association of Oncology Social Work National Conference.
• Bolte, S. (2007). Assessing sexuality in the pediatric oncology setting. Keynote, Association of Pediatric Oncology Social Work National Conference.
• Bolte, S. (2007). Intimacy and Relationships. Living Now Conference, National Marrow Donor Program, San Francisco, CA.
• Bolte, S. (2007). Addressing sexuality and intimacy in cancer survivorship. The 12th Annual
  Oncology Conference:  From Cancer Patient to Survivor, University of Missouri - Columbia, Columbia, MO.
• Bolte, S. (2007). The asexual myth: Addressing and assessing sexuality in the person with cancer. Cancer Education Symposium at Sanford Cancer Center, Sioux Falls, SD.
• Bolte, S. (2007). Long-term strategies for managing anxiety and uncertainty for women living
  with advanced (metastatic) breast cancer. Living Beyond Breast Cancer® International Teleconference.
• Bolte, S. (2007). Intimacy after Cancer. Sharsheret® National Breast Cancer Organization.
  National Teleconference.
• Bolte, S. (2007). Way beyond the pink – living w/ mets, Young Survival Coalition ®. International Teleconference.
• Bolte, S. (2008). The unique needs of young adults. Keynote Leukemia Lymphoma Society’s Family Support Group Training, Tampa Bay, FL.
• Bolte, S. & Cohen, E. (2008). Developing a young adult support group. Leukemia Lymphoma Society’s Family Support Group Training. Tampa Bay, FL.
• Bolte, S. (2008). Addressing sexuality & intimacy in the person with cancer. Oncology Nursing Society and U.S. Oncology Group, Kansas City, MO.
• Bolte, S. (2008). The impact of transplant on quality of life: Relationships and intimacy. National Marrow Donor Program, Charlotte, NC.
• Bolte, S. (2008). The unique needs of young adult survivors. BMT Infonet, Survivorship Conference, Dallas TX.
• Bolte, S. (2008). Assessing sexuality and intimacy in persons with cancer. Georgia’s Oncology
   Social Worker Group Annual Conference.
• Bolte, S. (2009). Relationships and communication after cancer. Wellness Conference, St. Louis, MO.
• Bolte, S. (2009). Assessing sexuality and intimacy in the pediatric population. APHON & COG collaborative annual conference, Dallas, TX.
• Bolte, S. & Cohen, E. (2009). The unique concerns of young adult cancer survivors. Oncology Nursing Society. San Antonio, TX.
• Bolte, S. (2009). The impact of cancer and its treatments on young adult cancer survivor’s as
  compared to their healthy peers. Association of Oncology Social Work Annual Conference, Savannah, GA.
• Bolte, S. (2009). Addressing the sexual health needs of cancer survivors, workshop series, Memphis, TN.
• Brethwaite, D.S.  (2005, May.) A comfort care chest as one model of addressing needs of patients and families in a palliative care setting.  Association of Oncology Social Work, Austin, TX.
• Brethwaite, D.S. (2004). Care for the caregiver. Inova Health Source Ask the Expert, Inova Health System, Falls Church, VA.
• Brethwaite, D.S., Cortese-Jimenez, G. & Toussaint, M. (2009). Elements of mind body:
  Exploring techniques to reduce distress, ease pain and promote wellness. Association of
  Oncology Social Work, Savannah, GA.
• Brethwaite, D.S. & Cohen, E. (2007).  Shared leadership: A transdisciplinary approach to care.  Association of Oncology Social Work, Portland, OR.
• Clark, P. G. (2009). Reducing psychological distress in the inpatient oncology treatment setting using  FLEX Care™: An intervention study. Association of Oncology Social Workers,
  Savannah, GA.
• Clark, P. G. (2009). Reducing psychological distress in the inpatient oncology treatment setting using FLEX Care™: An intervention study. American Psychosocial Oncology Society, Charlotte, NC.
• Clark, P. G., & Zabora, J. (2007). Development of evidence-based practice within a community oncology setting. Association of Oncology Social Workers, Portland, OR.
• Clark, P. G., & Zabora, J. (2007). Development of evidence-based practice within a community oncology setting. American Psychosocial Oncology Society Austin, TX.
• Clark, P. G., Gnesdiloff, S, & Brethwaite, D. S. (2007). Providing support to secondary cancer survivors at loved one’s time of death: Results of a five-year study. Society for Social Work and Research, San Francisco, CA.
• Clark, P. G., Gnesdiloff, S, & Brethwaite, D. S. (2007). Providing support to secondary cancer survivors at loved one’s time of death: Results of a five-year study. UICC World Cancer Congress, Washington, DC.
• Cohen, E (2010) The Facebook Age: How to use (and not use) Social Media to improve patient caring. Oncology Nursing Society Annual Congress, San Diego, CA.
• Cohen, E. & Bolte, Sage (2007) Cancer Survivorship for Young Adults. The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, Internet Webcast
• Cohen, E. & Bolte, Sage (2009) Young Adults with Blood Cancers: Managing Treatment and Beyond, The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, Oncology Nursing Society Congress, San Antonio, TX  http://www.rmei.com/ONS136VL
• Connor, C. (2010). What bereaved parents tell us. Association of Pediatric Oncology Social Workers annual meeting, Anaheim, CA
• Connor, C., et. al. (2010). Outcomes of an educational conference series for adolescent and young adult survivors of childhood cancer. 11th International Conference on Long-Term Complications of Treatment of Children & Adolescents for Cancer, Williamsburg, VA.
• Connor, C., H. Deluca (2010). Outcomes of an educational conference series for adolescent and young adult survivors of childhood cancer. Fourth International Nursing Conference on Children and Adolescent Cancer Survivorship, Williamsburg, VA.
• Connor, C. (2008). Innovative incentives for young adult survivors of childhood cancer to attend educational programs.  Association of Pediatric Oncology Social Workers, Bar Harbor, ME.
• Eckert, J. (2007). From diagnosis to death: Communicating with children during their parents’ cancer experience. Association of Oncology Social Work, Portland, OR.
• Gnesdiloff, S. (2007). Life with Cancer, a comprehensive cancer support program: From vision to reality. Association of Oncology Social Work, Annual Conference, Portland, OR.
• Gnesdiloff, S. & Brethwaite, D. (2006). Providing for good grief: A comprehensive approach to meeting
  the needs of the bereaved. Association of Oncology Social Work, Annual Conference, Minneapolis, MN.
• Gnesdiloff, S. (2001). Symptom management & mind-body medicine in oncology. Eastern Area Health Education Cooperative, Greenville, NC.
• Gnesdiloff, S. (1999). Utilizing complementary therapies to enhance well-being: A program. Association of Oncology Social Work, Annual Conference.
• Sosa, S. (2009). Surviving and thriving during the caregiving experience. 7th Annual Geriatric Oncology Consortium Conference, Washington, DC.
• Zabora, J. & Bolte, S. (2004). A problem-solving model: An innovative way to C.O.P.E. with
  challenges in patient care. International conference of the Association of Oncology Social Work.

:: Back to top ::