Date Posted
Speaker
Rina S. Fox, Ph.D., M.P.H.
Assistant Professor
University of Arizona College of Nursing
Tucson, AZ
Biography
Dr. Rina S. Fox is an Assistant Professor at the University of Arizona College of Nursing, as well as a member of the Cancer Prevention and Control Program and the Co-Director of the Behavioral Measurement and Interventions Shared Resource at the University of Arizona Cancer Center. As a licensed clinical psychologist, her research focuses on understanding how psychosocial processes impact cancer survivorship and developing behavioral interventions to decrease symptom burden and improve health-related quality of life. Currently she is leading projects focused on 1) understanding and improving sleep health in cancer and 2) addressing the unique psychosocial needs of adolescent and young adult cancer survivors. Dr. Fox received a PhD in Clinical Psychology from the San Diego State University/University of California, San Diego Joint Doctoral Program in Clinical Psychology and completed a NCI T32-funded postdoctoral fellowship in Cancer Prevention and Control at the Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine.
Abstract
Poor sleep is one of the most prevalent and distressing late effects of cancer. It can last for years following diagnosis and is related to higher symptom burden, lower quality of life, and worse clinical outcomes. Behavioral strategies are recommended as the first-line treatment for poor sleep due to their established efficacy and limited side effects. However, access to behavioral intervention can be challenging and engagement can be low. Dr. Fox’s research applies optimization methods to decrease the burden of engaging with care and digital solutions to increase access to care to improve sleep health among cancer survivors. In this talk, Dr. Fox will discuss her current K08-funded study, which aims to identify the best combination of three evidence-based behavioral techniques to improve sleep among gynecologic cancer survivors. She will also discuss her use of low-burden digital strategies to deliver behavioral sleep intervention to cancer survivors and caregivers.