Current Research Promises and Challenges in Behavioral Oncology

Abstract

The Behavioral Oncology Interest Group of the American Society of Preventive Oncology held a Roundtable session on March 10, 2002, at the American Society of PreventiveOncology annual meeting in Bethesda, Maryland, to discuss the current state-of-the-science in behavioral approaches to cancer prevention and control and to delineate priorities for additional research. Four key areas were considered: (a) behavioral approaches to cancer genetic risk assessment and testing; (b) biological mechanisms of psychosocial effects on cancer; (c) the role of risk perceptions in cancer screening adherence; and (d) the impact of tailored and targeted interventions on cancer prevention and control research. The evidence reviewed indicates that behavioral approaches have made significant contributions to cancer prevention and control research. At the same time, there is a need to more closely link future investigations to the underlying base of behavioral science principles and paradigms that guide them. To successfully bridge the gap between the availability of effective new cancer prevention and control technologies and the participants they are meant to serve will require the development of more integrative conceptual models, the incorporation of more rigorous methodological designs, and more precise identification of the individual and group characteristics of the groups under study.

Common Psychosocial Factors Underlying Breast Cancer Screening And Breast Cancer Treatment Adherence: A Conceptual Review And Synthesis

“…73,83 However, there is a growing sense that the cognitive domain needs to be considered as one component of a larger constellation of interrelated disease-specific cognitions and affects. 34, 84 Effect sizes for such factors as risk perception appear comparatively small, 74 emotion variables have been shown to predict screening over and above cognitive variables, 34,85 and at least two studies have shown that worry mediated risk-screening relations. 86,87 …”

Multiple Tailored Messages are Effective in Increasing Fruit and Vegetable Consumption Among Callers to the Cancer Information Service

“…Whereas many previous nutrition studies consisted of a single tailored message and sbort-term follow-up of 1 to 4 montbs (Brug, Campbell, & Van Assema, 1999;Brug et al, 1996;Campbell et al, 1994), this study compares groups with a single contact and groups witb four contacts over an 11-montb period, with final assessment at 12 montbs. Tbis design addresses an area of research (tbe relative efficacy of differing amounts of tailoring) recommended by tbe American Society of Preventive Oncology (Miller et al, 2004). Few nutrition studies have attempted to assess tbe value of retailoring or "iterative" tailoring as this one does, a question tbat could affect the cost of future interventions.…”

An internet method to assess cancer patient information needs and enhance doctor-patient communication: A pilot study

“…There is increasing recognition that patients vary in key characteristics that impact decision making such as numeracy, 22,23 relative health stock, 24,25 age, 26 gender, [26][27][28] and other cognitive-affective variables. [29][30][31] Thus, a "1 size fits all" approach to communication will not promote the best decisions and the greatest satisfaction. 10,32 Efforts to improve physician-patient communication have included training of patients 33 and training of physicians.…”