Research improving psychological outcomes for cancer patients

Research improving psychological outcomes for cancer patients

Often when we think of patients who have received a cancer diagnosis and are undergoing treatment, we think of the physical impacts. Though, we must also remember the emotional and psychological toll that comes with it.

That’s where Kerrie Clover comes in.

As a Research Manager and a Senior Clinical Psychologist for Psycho-Oncology, Kerrie splits her time between the world of research and clinical work where she helps people cope with the effects of cancer. From adjusting to a cancer diagnosis or progression, to helping get them through treatment, and looking at life after treatment.

“Often people are going along well in their life, and when something like cancer comes along, it has the ability to de-rail them,” she said.

During her 20 years at the Mater, Kerrie has worked on some incredible projects. This includes determining the best questionnaires to use in cancer services for measuring depression and anxiety symptoms, and research around anxiety caused by radiation therapy for head and neck cancer patients, who are required to wear a protective, rigid, close-fitting mask during treatment.

“Our research trial involved the patient wearing a pulse oximeter on their finger and feeding that back to them so they could hear their own pulse, and then getting them to try and lower their pulse with some specialised techniques.”

“Our clinical work definitely influences what and how we research.”

Most recently, Kerrie is collaborating with the Radiation Therapy Department to look at how best to help patients prepare for deep inspiration breath hold – a technique that patients receiving treatment to their chest area may have to undertake.

“When patients have treatment to the chest area, they might be asked to use this breath hold technique to reduce the chances of treating any nearby areas they want to miss, like the heart.

“We’ve found it can be quite tricky to master for many people, so our research is looking at how we might be able to improve this.”

According to Kerrie, working in the psycho-oncology service is extremely rewarding, as it means helping people when they need it most, and coming up with ways to increase patient comfort, adjustment and ultimately patient outcomes.

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