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Palliative care, doctor patient communication, religion/spirituality in health

My research interests relate to the intersection of oncology and palliative care. I am currently working on research projects which seek to understand and improve communication between cancer patients and their physicians.  I am also interested in improving attention and care of the spiritual dimensions of facing cancer.

Phelps AC, Maciejewski P, Nilsson M, et al “Religious coping and use of intensive life-prolonging care near death in patients with advanced cancer.” Journal of the American Medical Association. 2009;301(11):1140-1147. PMCID: PMC2869298

Phelps AC, Lauderdale KE, Alcorn S, Dillinger J, Balboni MT, Van Wert M, Vanderweele TJ, Balboni TA. “Addressing spirituality within the care of patients at the EOL: perspectives of patients with advanced cancer, oncologists, and oncology nurses.” Journal of Clinical Oncology, 2012 July 10;30(20):2538-44. PMCID: 22614979.

Enzinger AC, Zhang B, Weeks JC, Prigerson HG. “Clinical trials as part of end of life cancer care: associations with medical care and quality of life near death.” J Pain Symptom Manage. 2013 Oct 5. Epub ahead of print]. PMID 24099894.

 Maciejewski PK, Phelps AC, Kacel EL, Balboni TA, Balboni M, Wright AA, Pirl W, Prigerson HG. Religious coping and behavioral disengagement: opposing influences on advance care planning and receipt of intensive care near death. Psycho-Oncology. 2012 Jul;21(7):714-23. PMCID: PMC3134563.

Balboni TA, Balboni M, Enzinger AC, Gallivan K, Paulk ME, Wright A, Steinhauser K, Vanderweele TJ, Prigerson HG. Provision of Spiritual Support to Patients with Advanced Cancer by Religious Communities and Associations with Medical Care at the EOL. JAMA Internal Medicine. 2013 Jun 24;173(12):1109-17. PMCID: 23649656.