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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Browsing Andrea Cohee by Subject "Breast cancer survivors"

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    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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    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.
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    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.
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    Breast cancer survivors’ perceptions of their partners’ interest in cancer-focused psychosocial interventions
    (LWW, 2021) Cohee, Andrea A.; Krueger, Ellen F.; Vachon, Eric A.; Cottingham, Ann H.; Stutz, Patrick V.; Alwine, Jennifer S.; Johns, Shelley A.
    Background: Despite that partners of breast cancer survivors (BCS) often experience long-term consequences from the cancer experience, including fear of recurrence and depression, there are rarely psychosocial interventions aimed at mitigating these consequences. Because partners are usually recruited to research studies through BCS, it is important to understand the views of BCS regarding their partners’ involvement in interventions. The aim of this study was to explore perceptions of BCS regarding the advisability of offering a psychosocial intervention to their partners. Methods: BCS (N = 22) enrolled in 1 of 3 interventions (acceptance and commitment therapy [ACT], survivorship education [SE], or enhanced usual care [EUC]) were queried about whether they believed their partner would be interested in a psychosocial intervention similar to what they had just completed and asked to provide their opinions about how a partner intervention should be structured and what it should address. Twenty-two BCS (ACT group [n = 5], SE [n = 11], and EUC [n = 6]) completed the interviews. Results: The participants identified 3 unmet partner needs that they thought could be addressed by a psychosocial intervention: problems with coping, communication breakdowns, and lack of information. They also provided 3 recommendations regarding the development of a partner intervention: the use of a group format, the provision of separate sessions for partners and BCS, and the inclusion of intervention components that provide practical or factual information related to breast cancer. Conclusions: BCS can provide valuable insights that can inform the development of psychosocial interventions for partners of survivors. The development of such partner interventions is critical to address the negative and often hidden health and social effects experienced by partners of BCS.
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    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.
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    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.