Highlighting the UCLA School of Nursing's commitment to leading-edge research aimed at improving cancer screening and care, four members of the school's faculty will present important findings at the Oncology Nursing Society's annual research conference this week in Los Angeles.
"Critically important clinical research is taking place at nursing schools around the country, and UCLA is proud to be one of the leaders in this effort," said Dr. Ann Williams, associate dean for research. "These combined efforts are helping to transform the nursing profession in ways that will make immeasurable contributions to the nation's health."
Among the topics the faculty will address are culturally sensitive approaches to oncology nursing, the efficacy of Web-based surveys in research, and smoking-cessation efforts.
On Feb. 10, professor Eunice Lee will discuss her research on increasing mammogram screening among Korean American women by addressing their beliefs, knowledge, self-efficacy and their perceptions of support from their husbands. Lee is also co-author of a poster presentation that will outline the use of individual interviews to establish "culturally appropriate belief instruments" for colorectal cancer screenings among Korean Americans.
Linda P. Sarna, an expert on oncology nursing and tobacco control, will present a paper Feb. 11 describing the differences in nurses' efforts to help patients quit smoking in California, West Virginia and Indiana. In addition, Stella Bialous, a collaborator with Sarna, will present her findings on compliance with smoke-free policies at health care facilities.
Also, on Feb. 11, Marjorie J. Wells, a project director and lecturer at the UCLA School of Nursing, will present findings on the advantages and limitations of using Web-based surveys for cancer nursing research and the best methods for conducting these surveys.
Assistant professor Sally Maliskiwill will have a poster session and give an oral presentation Feb. 11 on how high-risk Latino men perceive their risk of prostate cancer. Her work focuses on understanding prostate cancer treatment, disclosure and screening-decision situations from the perspective of Latino men who have made such decisions, as well as high-risk brothers and sons of Latino men treated for prostate cancer.
"One of nursing's distinct characteristics is its focus on caring for and improving the quality of life for patients and their family members, not just in the hospital but in their homes and their communities as well," Williams said. "The important research that we are presenting at the oncology conference is a good example of this — science aimed at affecting behavior with the goal of improving health outcomes."
For more than six decades, the UCLA School of Nursing has been dedicated to enhancing the field of medicine and the nursing profession through research. Today the school is ranked fourth in the U.S. in National Institutes of Health funding, with $10 million in annual research grants.
The Oncology Nursing Society is a professional organization of more than 37,000 registered nurses and other healthcare providers dedicated to excellence in patient care, education, research and administration in oncology nursing. Its mission is to promote excellence in oncology nursing and quality cancer care and to lead the transformation of cancer care.
The UCLA School of Nursing is redefining nursing through the pursuit of uncompromised excellence in research, education, practice, policy and patient advocacy. The school offers programs for the undergraduate (B.S.), postgraduate (M.S.N. and M.E.C.N.) and doctoral (Ph.D.) student.
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Laura Perry
Laura Perry
