Andrea Cohee

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https://hdl.handle.net/1805/26638

Caring for the Carers: The Psychosocial Impact of Breast Cancer on Partners

Andrea Cohee is an Assistant Professor in the IUPUI School of Nursing. Her program of research focuses on psychosocial outcomes in survivors and their partners following a breast cancer diagnosis. Her work examines the relationship between social constraints, cognitive processing, and fear of recurrence and depression in both breast cancer survivors and their partners. She is currently building on her previous research to develop interventions targeting fear of a cancer recurrence in survivors and their partners. Her long-term goal is to develop interventions for cancer survivors and their partners to improve quality of life outcomes that can be implemented into the clinical setting.

Professor Cohee's translation of research into practical interventions for breast cancer survivors and their partners to improve quality of life is another excellent example of how IUPUI's faculty members are TRANSLATING their RESEARCH INTO PRACTICE.

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Introduction to Andrea Cohee & Her Work
(Center for Translating Research Into Practice, IU Indianapolis, 2021-09-15) Cohee, Andrea
Professor Andrea Cohee briefly discusses her translational research that deals with breast cancer survivors and their caregivers.
Caring for the Carers: The Psychosocial Impact of Breast Cancer on Partners
(Center for Translating Research Into Practice, IU Indianapolis, 2021-10-22) Cohee, Andrea
Partners/spouses of breast cancer survivors often experience just as much, if not more, distress-depression, anxiety, and fear of a cancer recurrence-than the survivors themselves. Professor Andrea Cohee talks about contributors to partners' distress, what they have said they want from healthcare professionals, and what healthcare professionals are doing to help.
Symptom Treatment Preferences of Cancer Survivors: Does Fatigue Level Make a Difference?
(LWW, 2021) Krueger, Ellen; Secinti, Ekin; Mosher, Catherine E.; Stutz, Patrick V.; Cohee, Andrea A.; Johns, Shelley A.
Background Cancer-related fatigue (CRF) is among the most prevalent symptoms in cancer survivors and often co-occurs with other symptoms. However, little is known about survivors' preferences for treating CRF and associated symptoms. Objective The aim of this study was to examine cancer survivors' interest in learning skills to manage CRF and associated symptoms and their interest in various nonpharmacologic interventions and modalities. These outcomes were compared between survivors with high and normal fatigue. Methods Breast, gastrointestinal, lung, and prostate cancer survivors (N = 338) completed a 1-time survey, including a Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System fatigue measure and a checklist assessing interest in learning skills to manage CRF and associated symptoms as well as interest in nonpharmacologic interventions and modalities. Results Many cancer survivors reported interest in learning skills to manage CRF (range, 35%-78%) and associated symptoms (range, 13%-48%). Compared with survivors with normal fatigue (n = 180), highly fatigued survivors (n = 158; Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System fatigue T score ≥ 55) were more likely to report interest in learning skills to manage various symptoms, self-compassion training, and programs offered individually and in person. Interest in other interventions and modalities did not vary by fatigue level. Conclusions Many cancer survivors, especially those with high fatigue, report interest in learning symptom management skills. Given survivors' high level of interest in complementary and integrative health interventions, future research should continue to assess their impact on symptoms and functioning.
A Multisite Health System Survey to Assess Organizational Context to Support Evidence-Based Practice
(Wiley, 2019) Pittman, Joyce; Cohee, Andrea; Storey, Susan; LaMothe, Julie; Gilbert, Jason; Bakoyannis, Giorgos; Ofner, Susan; Newhouse, Robin
Background Implementation and sustainability of a culture of evidence-based practice (EBP) require a systematic approach. A baseline assessment of the organizational context can inform implementation efforts. Aims To examine organizational hospital context and provider characteristics associated with EBP readiness and to describe EBP context across hospitals. Methods A nonexperimental descriptive correlational design was used to conduct a web-based survey of direct-care registered nurses (N = 701) and nurse managers (N = 94) across a large Midwestern multisite healthcare system using the Alberta Context Tool (ACT). Results Many significant relationships existed among nurse characteristics and ACT domains, including age (lower age had higher Leadership, Evaluation, and Formal Interactions), education (graduate education had lower Social Capital than a bachelor's or associate degree), role (direct-care nurses had lower Culture than managers and lower Social Capital), and work status (full-time employees had lower Evaluation and Social Capital). EBP context across type of hospitals is similar, with marginal differences in Social Capital and Organizational Slack (higher in critical access hospitals). Linking Evidence to Action Assessing organizational context to support EBP is the first step in developing and enhancing a sustainable culture of inquiry. The ACT has been tested across countries, settings, and healthcare disciplines to measure perception of readiness of the practice environment toward EBP. Optimal organizational context is essential to support EBP and sustain the use of evidence in professional nursing practice. Nursing leaders can use baseline assessment information to identify strengths and opportunities to enhance EBP implementation. Enhancing organizational context across nurse characteristics (e.g., age, role, and work status) to acknowledge nurses’ contributions, balance nurses’ personal and work life, enhance connectedness, and support work culture is beneficial. Fostering development of Social Capital in nurses is needed to influence EBP readiness. A systematic and standardized approach to foster EBP across health systems is key to successful implementation.
Breast Cancer Survivors' Perceptions of Partners' Intervention Needs
(2018) Cohee, Andrea A.; Johns, Shelley A.
Breast cancer survivors and their partners report similar levels of fear of recurrence; however, partners are rarely the subject of intervention. Survivors' perceptions for partners' interests and barriers in a survivorship education intervention are discussed.
Genitourinary Symptoms in Breast Cancer Survivors: Prevalence, Correlates, and Relationship With Sexual Functioning
(ONS, 2021) Sheng, Ying; Carpenter, Janet S.; Cohee, Andrea A.; Storey, Susan; Stump, Timothy E.; Monahan, Patrick O.; Cella, David; Champion, Victoria L.
Objectives To evaluate (a) the prevalence of genitourinary symptoms, (b) which demographic and clinical factors predict genitourinary symptoms, and (c) the association between genitourinary symptoms and sexual functioning in breast cancer survivors. Sample & setting A secondary analysis of cross-sectional, patient-reported outcomes data from 1,085 breast cancer survivors was conducted. Methods & variables Prevalence and correlations with demographics, clinical factors, and sexual functioning were identified using descriptive analysis, multivariable logistic regression analysis, chi-square tests, t tests, and Pearson correlation coefficients. Results Symptoms included vaginal/vulvar irritation, pelvic discomfort, problems with urinary control, vaginal infection, and vaginal bleeding. Younger age, more comorbidities, and taking treatment for menopausal symptoms were significantly related to reporting genitourinary symptoms. Experiencing more symptoms was associated with lower sexual functioning. Implications for nursing The prevalence, correlates, and relationship of genitourinary symptoms with sexual functioning supports the assessment and treatment of these symptoms as part of routine care for breast cancer survivors.
The mediating role of avoidant coping in the relationships between physical, psychological, and social wellbeing and distress in breast cancer survivors
(Wiley, 2021) Cohee, Andrea; Johns, Shelley A.; Alwine, Jennifer S.; Talib, Tasneem; Monahan, Patrick O.; Stump, Timothy E; Cella, David; Champion, Victoria L.
Objective Many breast cancer survivors (BCSs) recover from the negative sequelae of cancer treatment. However, some report persistent and disruptive distress well into disease-free survivorship. More information is needed on the predictors of distress in this growing population of BCS, including the role of avoidant coping, or attempts to avoid thoughts, feelings, and reminders of cancer, in mediating the relationship between distress and psychological, physical, and social domains of well-being. Methods In a large cross-sectional study, BCS (n = 1,127), who were 3 to 8 years post-diagnosis, completed a survey assessing demographic characteristics, medical history, distress (anxiety and depressive symptoms), avoidant coping, and physical (fatigue), psychological (fear of recurrence, attention, body image), and social (social support from a partner, social constraints from a partner) well-being. Multiple mediation analyses were conducted to determine if avoidant coping mediated the relationship between each distress variable (anxiety and depressive symptoms) and each well-being (fear of recurrence, attention, body image, fatigue, social support, and social constraints) variable. Results In all six mediation models, avoidant coping significantly (p < 0.001) mediated the relationship between each well-being variable (fear of recurrence, attention, body image, fatigue, social support, and social constraints) and each distress indicator (depression and anxiety). Avoidant coping mediated 19%–54% of the effects of the contributing factors on the distress variables. Conclusions Avoidant coping may indicate risk for, or presence of, distress among BCS. Interventions to reduce distress may benefit from addressing avoidant coping styles.
The association between cancer care coordination and quality of life is stronger for breast cancer patients with lower health literacy: A Greater Plains Collaborative study
(Springer, 2020) McDowell, Bradley D.; Klepm, Jennifer; Blaes, Anne; Cohee, Andrea A.; Trentham-Dietz, Amy; Kamaraju, Sailaja; Otte, Julie L.; Mott, Sarah L.; Chrischilles, Elizabeth A.
Purpose Health literacy (HL) and cancer care coordination (CCC) were examined for their relationship to quality of life (QOL) among breast cancer survivors. CCC was hypothesized to have a stronger relationship to QOL for women with lower HL. Methods Women (N = 1138) who had completed treatment for Stage 0–III, ductal carcinoma breast cancer between January 2013 and May 2014 at one of eight large medical centers responded to a mailed questionnaire. Responses to questions about survivorship care planning and presence of professional care coordinator were combined to form an index of CCC. An index of HL was also derived. QOL was measured using the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Breast (FACT-B) scales. Results 74.3% (N = 845) of patients reported having a health professional coordinate their care during treatment and 78.8% (N = 897) reported receiving survivorship care planning. CCC was classified as none, partial, or high for 7.1%, 32.7%, and 60.2% of the patients, respectively. Except for emotional well-being, the interaction between HL and CCC was significant for all QOL domains (p < .05); the effect of CCC on FACT-B scores was largest for people with lower HL. For the 39.8% of patients with less than high CCC, 111 (27.3%) had a level of HL associated with clinically meaningful lower QOL. Conclusions The association between CCC and later QOL is strongest for people who have lower HL. Prioritizing care coordination for patients with lower health literacy may be an effective strategy in a setting of limited resources.
Association of cognitive impairment and breast cancer survivorship on quality of life in younger breast cancer survivors
(Springer, 2021) Von Ah, Diane; Crouch, Adele D.; Monahan, Patrick O.; Stump, Timothy E; Unverzagt, Frederick W.; Storey, Susan; Cohee, Andrea A.; Cella, David; Champion, Victoria L.
Purpose Younger breast cancer survivors (BCS) often report cognitive impairment and poor quality of life (QoL), which could be interrelated. The purpose of this study was to examine the association of cognitive impairment and breast cancer status (BCS versus healthy control (HC)), with QoL, which included psychological (depressive symptoms, well-being, perceived stress, and personal growth) and physical well-being (physical functioning and fatigue). Methods Four hundred ninety-eight BCS (≤45 years at diagnosis) who were 3 to 8 years post-chemotherapy treatment and 394 HC completed subjective questionnaires and a one-time neuropsychological assessment, including tests of attention, memory, processing speed, and verbal fluency. For each test, cognitive impairment was defined as scoring 1.5 and 2.0 standard deviations below the mean of the HC group. Separate linear regression models for each outcome were ran controlling for known covariates. Results BCS reported significantly more memory problems than HC (p < 0.0001), with up to 23% having significant impairment. Cognitive performance did not differ significantly between BCS and HCs. BCS vs. HCs had greater depression and fatigue, yet more personal growth. Objective and subjective cognitive impairment were significantly related to greater depressive symptoms and perceived stress and lower well-being and physical functioning; whereas, objective impairment was related to less personal growth and subjective impairment was related to greater fatigue. Conclusions Younger BCS report significant cognitive impairment years after treatment which may relate to greater decrements in QoL.
4024 Theory and Scale Development for Cancer-Related Self-Efficacy in Partners of Breast Cancer Survivors
(2020) Cohee, Andrea; Draucker, Claire; Monahan, Patrick; Champion, Victoria
OBJECTIVES/GOALS: Specific aims are to: (Qualitative aim) Develop a new measure of cancer-related self-efficacy in partners (BCSES-P) and obtain feedback on the items (Quantitative) Evaluate the psychometric properties of the BCSES-P including: dimensionality, factor analysis, and construct validity assessing the relationships posited METHODS/STUDY POPULATION: 2- Phase Approach: 1) Item development and 1) Item testing Phase 1 Stage 1: Literature review to identify additional covariates Stage 2: Focus groups and individual interviews to determine partners’ needs Sample size: 20 partners (18 years of age or older, identifying as being in a committed relationship with a BCS) Design: cross-sectional, qualitative interviews Stage 3: Develop candidate items Stage 4: Cognitive interviews Stage 5: Finalize items with research team Phase 2 Preliminary psychometric testing Dimensionality Internal consistency reliability Construct validity Sample size: 150 partners Design: cross-sectional, online survey RESULTS/ANTICIPATED RESULTS: The BCSES-P will be unidimensional as assessed by exploratory factor analysis. The BCSES-P will demonstrate an internal consistency coefficient of 0.70 or above. Construct validity of the BCSES-P will be demonstrated by support of the following theoretical relationships: Cancer-related self-efficacy will be positively related to marital satisfaction and sexual functioning (social well- being) and the distal outcome, overall QoL. Cancer-related self-efficacy will be negatively related to fatigue (physical well-being), fear of recurrence, depression, and anxiety (psychological well-being). DISCUSSION/SIGNIFICANCE OF IMPACT: Findings will guide intervention development to improve partners’ quality of life The BCSES-P will be the first scale to measure partners’ cancer-related self-efficacy. This study will highlight a holistic approach to studying the long-term effects of breast cancer on partners.

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