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A healthy lifestyle and timely cancer screenings play a critical role in preventing several types of cancer. But getting people to adopt lifestyle changes and undergo screenings can be notoriously difficult. Researchers at the UGA Cancer Center are conducting research that helps officials design more effective health education campaigns. They’re also working to better understand the emotional and social impacts of cancer in hopes of creating interventions that improve the quality of life of patients.
Stephanie Burwell
Child and Family Development
Younger women (aged 18-50) diagnosed with breast cancer often must balance competing health, work and family demands. Burwell is studying the psychological and relational impact of breast cancer on younger women and their families to develop interventions to help them cope and maximize social support during treatment.
Vicki S. Freimuth
Director, Center for Health and Risk Communication
Speech Communication and Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication
The National Cancer Institute predicts that nearly 50% of cancer deaths could be prevented with better application of existing knowledge and technology. Freimuth is working to better understand the way people seek and process cancer information and make decisions about prevention, detection and treatment.
Su-I Hou
Health Promotion and Behavior
Early detection of cancers can save lives, but many people still don’t get regular screenings. Hou is studying the psychosocial and cultural factors that influence screening behaviors and working to develop theory- and evidence-based interventions to encourage screening. She has focused on using community and worksite strategies to encourage cancer screenings, particularly among minorities.
Claire Robb
Health Administration, Biostatistics & Epidemiology
Breast cancer is more common in women over age 70, yet most of the research into quality of life issues focuses on younger women. Robb is studying the physical and emotional impact of breast cancer on older women in hopes of guiding interventions that help patients and survivors lead fuller lives.
William Spruill
Clinical and Administrative Pharmacy
The close relationships and repeated contacts that pharmacists have with patients makes them ideal conduits for delivering personalized information on cancer prevention and screening. Spruill and colleague William Wade have developed a Web-based program that teaches practicing pharmacists, pharmacy students and other health professionals how to educate their patients on cancer prevention and early detection.
