Andrea M. Barsevick, PhD, RN, AOCN is a member of the Cancer Prevention and Control Program. She is also the Director of Nursing Research and an Advanced Oncology Certificate Nurse (AOCN®). She has received grant funding from the National Institute of Nursing Research, the National Cancer Institute, the American Cancer Society, and the Oncology Nursing Society.

Dr. Barsevick has developed a research program focused on symptoms and quality of life (QOL) of cancer patients and survivors. QOL has gained prominence as an important outcome of cancer treatment, encompassing those things that give worth, meaning, purpose, and satisfaction to life. QOL is a “patient-reported outcome.” To understand QOL, one must go directly to individuals to determine how disease and treatment has affected their lives. QOL can include physical, psychological, social, spiritual, and functional well being as well as difficult or distressing symptoms.

The quality of life program of research has focused on developing interventions that can alleviate symptoms during cancer therapy including prominent and distressing symptoms such as fatigue and sleep disturbance. A study is currently underway to explore the amount and type of symptom intervention that is most effective in preventing or alleviating symptoms. Both quantitative and qualitative methodologies are being used to tap the "experiential knowledge" imparted to individuals living with cancer. Alleviating symptoms and improving quality of life is at the heart of the FCCC mission to reduce the burden of cancer.

Another focus of the quality of life research program is cancer survivorship. A needs assessment is currently being conducted to document the perceptions of both cancer survivors and health care professionals about the concerns and needs of survivors. The needs assessment is an initial step in the creation of the FCCC Cancer Survivorship Program. It will inform a planning process for the incremental development of the program with specific clinical and research components.

New research directions include the use of web technology to conduct interventions to reduce symptoms and improve quality of life for cancer patients and survivors; and examining the biological basis for cancer-related symptoms.

As director of nursing research at the Center, Dr. Barsevick has led a clinical nursing initiative to bring evidence-based to the bedside. Education and hands-on experiential learning have been used to ensure that nursing care activities are evidence-based.

Fox Chase Programs

• Cancer Prevention and Control

Extramural Affiliations

• Adjunct Associate Professor, University of Pennsylvania, School of Nursing