Supervisor:
Dr. Lori Weeks, Professor, School of Nursing
Program of Study:
PhD in Health
Project Title:
Exploring the Experience of Transition to Palliative Care of Young Adults Living with Metastatic/Advanced Cancer
Research Summary:
Cancer is the leading cause of illness-related death for young adults (YAs; 18-39). A diagnosis
for a person in this age group may mean unique challenges as their needs are influenced by
educational, work, lifestyle and psychosocial (psychological and social) factors. While there is
limited research among this population, there is even less regarding how young adults experience
palliative care. This research is necessary to deliver age-appropriate, person-centered, specialist care to young people. The purpose of this study is to explore how young adults living with metastatic/advanced cancer experience the transition to palliative care. This phenomenology of practice study will develop a profound understanding of the transition to palliative care experience of young adults and will enhance healthcare professionals’ understanding of the
transition to palliative care experiences of this population.
Scholarships and/or Awards:
-
- Leon and Rose Zitner Award for exceptional impacts in the area of health, through community engagement and mobilization of citizen knowledge (Healthy Populations Institute, and the Faculties of Dentistry, Health and Medicine) 2023
-
- Dalhousie OpenThink Scholarship, Faculty of Graduate Studies 2023
-
- Cancer Research Training Program (CRTP) Traineeship Award 2021
-
- Kappa Kappa Gamma Foundation of Canada Graduate Scholarship for Canadian Women 2020
-
- Killam Level 2 Predoctoral Scholarship 2019 – 2021
-
- Cancer Research Training Program (CRTP) Traineeship Award 2019
-
- Colleen Elliot Award for Excellence in Cancer Research, Nova Scotia Health Research Foundation, 2018
-
- Brain Tumour Foundation of Canada’s HCP – Professional Development Grant, 2018
-
- Faculty of Health Professions Entrance Scholarship, 2016
-
- Nova Scotia Research and Innovation Graduate Scholarship (PhD), 2016
-
- Cancer Research Training Program (CRTP) Doctoral Traineeship Award, 2016 [Declined]
-
- 1st Place: AYA Cancer Innovation and Research Award for Models of Care Partnerships from Critical Mass’ Annual Conference. Awarded by the Steven G. AYA Cancer Research Fund, 2013
-
- Certificate of Recognition from the Venturing Out Beyond Our Cancer (VOBOC) Foundation for tremendous leadership in the advancement of care for AYA patients, 2012
-
- Best Graduate Student Research Poster at the 2011 Meeting at the Crossroads: Student Research in Health Conference
-
- Bultz Student Award: Best Student Poster Research Presentation at the 12th World Congress of Psycho-Oncology, 2010
-
- Best Graduate Student Research Poster at the 2010 Meeting at the Crossroads: Student Research in Health Conference
-
- Best Graduate Student Research Poster at the 2009 Meeting at the Crossroads: Student Research in Health Conference
Career Aspirations:
My research interests lay in pediatric and young adult psychosocial oncology. My career goal is to be an independent investigator embedded in a healthcare system in the area of cancer and health services research with a specialty within the AYA cancer population. I want to focus on how we can make system changes that will create better health outcomes and support for patients.
Location:
IWK Health Centre
Publications:
Drake, E. K., Weeks, L. E., van Manen, M., Shin, H. D., Wong, H., Taylor, D., McKibbon, S. & Curran, J. (2023). The delivery of palliative and end-of-life care to adolescents and young adults living with cancer: A scoping review. Journal of Adolescent and Young Adult Oncology. doi: 10.1089/jayao.2023.0013. Epub ahead of print.
Teplinsky, E., Beltran Ponce, S., Drake, E.K., Garcia, A. M., Loeb, S., van Londen, G. J., Teoh, D., Thompson, M., Schapira, L., for the Collaboration for Outcomes using Social Media in Oncology (COSMO) (Accepted). Online medical misinformation in cancer: Distinguishing fact from fiction. JCO Oncology Practice. OP.21.00764.
Bender, J. L., Puri, N., Salih, S., D’Agostino, N., Tsimicalis, A., Howard, A. F., Garland, S. N., Chalifour, K., Drake, E. K., Maratto, A., McKean, N. L., & Gupta, A. A. (2022). Peer support needs and preferences for digital peer navigation among adolescent and young adults with cancer: A Canadian cross-sectional survey. Current Oncology, 29(2), 1163-1175. https://doi.org/10.3390/curroncol29020099
Chidharla, A., Utengen, A., Attai, D. J., Drake, E. K., van Londen, G., Subbiah, I. M., Henry, E., Murphy, M., Barry, M. M., Manochakian, R., Moerdler, S., Loeb, S., Graff, S. L., Leyfman, Y., Thompson, M. A., Markham, M. J. (Accepted). Social media and professional development for oncology professionals. JCO Oncology Practice. OP.21.00761
Drake, E. K., Weeks, L., van Manen, M., Curran, J., & McKibbon, S. (2021). The delivery of palliative and end-of-life care to adolescents and young adults living with cancer: A scoping review protocol. JBI Evidence Synthesis, 19(12), 3384-3393.
Bender, J., Salih, S., D’Agostino, N., Drake, E., Garland, S., Gupta, A., Howard, F., Li, Z.A., Mitchell, L., & Tsimicalis, A. (2020). Perceived symptom burden and cognitive impairment in young adults with cancer. Journal of Psychosocial Oncology Research and Practice, 2(1S), 2 (S2-100).
Salih, S., D’Agostino, N., Drake, E., Garland, S., Gupta, A., Howard, F., Li, Z.A., Mitchell, L., Tsimicalis, A., & Bender, J. (2020). Feelings of loneliness and perceived social support in young adults with cancer. Journal of Psychosocial Oncology Research and Practice, 2(1S), 28 (104).
Salih, S., D’Agostino, N., Drake, E., Garland, S., Gupta, A., Howard, F., Li, Z.A., Mitchell, L., Tsimicalis, A., & Bender, J. (2020). Perceived social support in young adults with cancer compared to matched peers. Journal of Psychosocial Oncology Research and Practice, 2(1S), 28 (103).
Drake, E. K., & Urquhart, R. (2020). The Experiences of Young Adults Living with Metastatic/Advanced Cancer: A Scoping Review. Journal of Adolescent and Young Adult Oncology, 9(2), 145-156. doi: 10.1089/jayao.2019.0093
Dol, J., Tutelman, P.R., Chambers, C.T., Barwick, M., Drake, E.K., Parker, J.A., Parker, R., Benchimol, E.I., George, R.B., & Witteman, H.O. (2019). Health researchers’ use of social media: A scoping review. Journal of Medical Internet Research, 21(11), e13687. doi: 10.2196/13687