“For anybody starting out in educational research, stay true to your passion…”
How long have you been a member of AACE?
I’ve been a member of AACE for 10 years.
What is your current position and where do you work?
I am currently an Associate Professor in the Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing at Emory University.
Describe some of your research as it relates to cancer education?
My first study as a doctoral student was a qualitative study aimed at understanding African the culturally relevant ways in which American cancer survivors’ use social support. The findings from this research indicated that the most important source of support for African Americans was their spirituality, their relationship with God, and the support derived from this relationship with the Divine. God was perceived to be a resource for social support, healing, comfort, and strength that enabled these participants to endure and complete prescribed treatments for their cancer diagnosis. A second major finding from this research was that participation in dynamic, reciprocal supportive relationships was also important to these older African American participants. These findings led to a National Institute of Health/National Institute of Nursing Research funding and were foundational to a measure of social support that was evaluated for reliability and validity with a sample of 350 African American cancer patients at the Grady Cancer Center for Excellence. Findings from this research, The Ways of Helping Questionnaire. revealed that the types of social support exchanged among family members, friends, and fellow congregants of the African American cancer patient were generally under the category of emotional support and associated with mental health outcomes and relationship well-being.
Another research study, that is perhaps my favorite, was to explore the ways in which African Americans used religious practices such as hymns, religious text, and prayers in response to stressful life events. I initially began this study older African Americans and due to community interest, expanded the study enrollment to include younger adults. The findings of this study suggests that lyrics of hymns are very instrumental as a source of comfort and strength during life threatening illness. In addition, religious texts and prayers were used to help the participants to become closer to God. Those sources also helped them with their identity as a child of God, even though they were going through a stressful life event. If they could see themselves in a positive way it helped them to have positive mental health.
What motivates you to continue to do research in cancer education?
The work with the population keeps me going. My passion of the exploration of the ways in which culture influences coping strategies and health outcomes among African Americans. I am hopeful that the findings from my research can be used by other cancer educators to improve the lives of African American Cancer patients and their family members.
What motivated you to shift from being a clinical nurse to being a researcher?
As a clinical nurse you can improve the lives of a select few patients, but as a researcher you can improve the lives of an entire population. In other words, as a researcher, your findings have the potential to change the lives of a much broader population. Also, as a researcher you can extend your skillset and your passion to reach patients, family members, and also your mentees. As a nurse at the bedside, I can improve the lives of hundreds of patients, but with research, you could really reach a national or global population. Your reach is much more extensive, much more powerful.
Do you have any advice for individuals interested in pursuing a career in cancer education?
For anybody starting out in educational research, stay true to your passion since there will be times when you feel like your work is not valued or you don’t get acknowledgement for what you do. You have to constantly remember that you are working to improve the lives of your population because the rewards come and go, the funding comes and goes but your focus on your population will keep you motivated. You’ve always got to remember who you are working for. You are working for your patient population!