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CRCD Awarded Five Additional Years of Funding Return to Top Return to Top Catherine M. Bender, PhD, RN was awarded the 1999 Ruth Perkins Kuehn Award for her study entitled, "Cognitive Function and Reproductive Hormones in Premenopausal Breast Cancer: Expansion to a New Implementation Site." Catherine M. Bender, PhD, RN also earned the 1999 Leadership in Nursing Award for Research from the Eta Chapter of Sigma Theta Tau International Honor Society of Nursing. Gayle R. Whitman, PhD, RN was awarded the 1999 Ruth Perkins Kuehn Award for her study entitled, "The Impact of Structure and Process on Patient Outcomes." Denise Charron-Prochownik, PhD, RN received $268,000 from the American Diabetes Association for her study, "Family Planning Decisions and Behaviors in Young Women with IDDM." Judith T. Matthews, PhD, RN was awarded $16,000 in Central Research Development Funding (CRDF) for her research entitled "Mastery Adherence Among Caregivers of Stoke Survivors." Janyce Dyer, PhD, CRNP, received funding from the Central Research Development Fund for
her study, "Examining Depression in Post-MI Patients and Evaluate the Impact of
Interpersonal Therapy on Depression, Quality of Life, Adherence, Social Adjustment, and
Social Support." Dr. Burns Discusses State Health Improvement Plan Return to Top Dean Speaks On Careers in
Research Dr. Ellen Rudy, Dean of the School of Nursing, led the CRCD Professional Development Series on September 28 with a presentation entitled, "Launching a Research Career." Dr. Rudy stressed the importance of research in the academic setting and her belief
that the most important characteristics of a good researcher are persistence and the
ability to take criticism. Dr. Rudy spoke of the diligence and single-mindedness necessary
to becoming a prolific researcher. Dr. Rudy said it is easy to become distracted with
committee appointments, teaching obligations, and life outside the university, but she
believes it is crucial to stay focused. It is vital to the research to take the time to
think about the topic and approach. Dr. Rudy also strongly urged seeking input from
colleagues inside and outside your department and to ask people to critique your work. An
honest critique is an invaluable tool, she said. CRCD Hires Writing Editor Return to Top As one of the new Graduate Student Researchers, Hilary comes to the CRCD from the English Department of the University of Pittsburgh. While originally from Ohio, Hilary has been living in Pittsburgh for the last 3 ½ years working as a Staff Specialist III in the Department of Surgery in the Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery at UPMC. Now, a full-time graduate student, Hilary is joining the CRCD to facilitate the organizing and writing of faculty and staff documents. Ms. Lewis will be working in the CRCD 10 hours per week. She will be attending the
monthly Writing Groups led by Dr. Judith Erlen, Director, Research Development and
Dissemination Core. Please forward requests for her editorial assistance to Dr. Elizabeth
Schlenk, Project Director (460 Victoria, 4-4103). Journal Club Discusses QOL After Intensive Care Return to Top The focus of this study was to analyze the quality of life of patients after being
discharged from an extended intensive care stay and then compare the results with the
general population. As people continue to live longer lives, it is important to ensure
they are maintaining fulfilling lives. Studies similar to this are increasing the medical
field’s knowledge of patients’ health after they have been discharged from care.
For copies of the article, please call 412-624-7838. CRCD Funds Six New Pilot Studies by Hilary Lewis Return to Top Janyce Dyer, PhD, RN, Assistant Professor of Nursing and Psychiatry, for her study entitled: A Follow-Up Study of Depressive Disorders, Positive and Negative Social Support, and Health-Related Quality of Life in Women During the Acute and Recovery Phases Following a Myocardial Infarction, which was awarded the sum of $3,848. Dr. Dyer has been studying the depressive disorders of women who have experienced a myocardial infarction. Heart disease is the number one killer of women and while much work is being done on the physical aspects of the disease, there is little focus given to the psychological aspects of an MI survivor. With her study, Dr. Dyer plans to examine mechanisms by which depressive disorders, cardiac severity and social support interact and the impact such interactions have on recurrent cardiac events. Richard Henker, PhD, RN, Assistant Professor in the Department of Acute/Tertiary Care, for his study entitled, "Behavioral and Experiential Components of Fever with Persons with HIV", which was awarded the sum of $1,480. Dr. Henker authors and co-authors many studies on thermoregulation and fever. With the approval of this study, Dr. Henker will continue his work in studying the potential disruption of antiretroviral therapies in HIV patients when there is a disturbance in the patient’s life such as with a fever. Dr. Henker will examine the behavioral and experiential responses associated with fever, such as chills, night sweats, malaise, fatigue and decreased activity levels and consider their place in the context of the patient’s negative treatment adherence. Anna Marsland, PhD, RN, Pediatric Psychologist in the Behavioral Medicine Program, for her study entitled: Quality of Life After Pediatric Bone Marrow Transplantation Among Recipients and Their Caregivers, which was awarded the sum of $4,100. Dr. Marsland will study the psychosocial and neurocognitive consequences of Pediatric Bone Marrow Transplantation (BMT) on the patient and their primary caregivers. While there are many studies that focus on the physiological aspects of the BMT, Dr. Marsland plans to examine the cognitive and psychosocial difficulties faced by BMT recipients and their families. Dr. Marsland’s study will provide the methodological benchmark needed to develop a system to target potential patients and their families who are at risk of developing negative psychological reactions to the BMT. This study is a continuation of Dr. Marsland’s work on the relationship between stress, immunity and physical illness. Judith Matthews, PhD, RN, Assistant Professor in the Department of Health and Community Systems, for her study entitled: Mastery and Adherence Among Caregivers of Stroke Survivors, which was awarded the sum of $1,784. Dr. Matthews is utilizing a cognitive-behavioral and persuasion framework to determine whether there is an improvement in the care and quality of life of a post-discharge stroke survivor when there is significant education given to their primary caregiver. With this study, Dr. Matthews plans on examining the quality and quantity of information given to the primary care givers and the correlation between the improvement of post-discharge instructions/education and the recovery and overall quality of life of stroke survivors. Ann Mitchell, PhD, RN, Assistant Professor of Nursing, for her study entitled: Evaluation of Critical Incident Stress Debriefing for Survivors of Suicide: A Long Term Follow-Up, which was awarded the sum of $1,138. Dr. Mitchell has been involved with suicide research over the last eight years and with the approval of her pilot study she will look specifically at the surviving family members of the deceased to study the behavioral, cognitive and physiological consequences of their traumatic grief. Dr. Mitchell will concentrate her study on the Critical Incident Stress Debriefing (CISD) method which is used on EMS, paramedics, police and firemen to help them cope with the trauma of accidental or unnatural death. Dr. Mitchell will use this same skill to help family members cope with the death of their loved one. Carol Stilley, PhD, RN, Assistant Professor, for her study entitled: Cognitive Function and Adherence with Cholesterol Lowering Treatment, which as a secondary analysis of data and will receive no direct funding. Dr. Stilley will be examining the psychological and cognitive functioning of patients in accordance with the medication regime they are following to lower their cholesterol levels. Dr. Stilley is concerned with the psychological and neurological status of patients with a chronic medical illness. With this study, Dr. Stilley plans to continue her work in helping patients with a chronic illness maintain a psychologically healthy quality of life. Carol Stilley, PhD, RN, Assistant Professor, for her study entitled: Cognitive Function and Medication Adherence in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis, which was awarded the sum of $1,500. In conjunction with Dr. Stilley’s previously mentioned pilot study, the emphasis
of this study will be to look specifically at patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis to
examine their psychological and neuropsychological functioning when under the treatment of
a medication regime. The goal of this study is to successfully link the physiological
aspects of care with the psychological aspects of care to ensure that patients with
Rheumatoid Arthritis are maintaining a whole-body wellness. New Books and Publications in CRCD Library Return to Top Chronic disease epidemiology & control – R. C. Brownson & P. Remington
(1998)
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