Events

HSRP graduate student Meng-Jung Wen (Shiyanbola Lab) will defend her thesis:

Person-Centered Persona Development: An Explanatory Sequential Mixed Methods Study of the Impact of Health Beliefs on Cancer Management and Oral Anticancer Medication Use

The increasing use of oral anticancer medications (OAMs) has transformed cancer treatment, shifting care to outpatient and home-based settings. While this provides flexibility, it also places a significant responsibility on cancer survivors to manage their own medication. Nearly half of those prescribed OAMs struggle to take them as directed, leading to more hospital visits, higher healthcare costs, and poorer health outcomes. While many studies have focused on practical barriers like forgetfulness, growing research suggests that personal beliefs about cancer and treatment play a key role in whether patients adhere to their medications. However, these beliefs and how they shape survivors’ decisions are not yet well understood. 

This dissertation uses an explanatory sequential mixed methods design to explore how cancer survivors’ health beliefs impact their medication use and self-care. By combining survey data with in-depth interviews, this study identified and developed three distinct survivor personas, each representing unique challenges, emotions, and barriers to medication adherence. The findings highlight the need for personalized support, such as education tailored to individual beliefs, digital health tools, and system-level support to help survivors stay on track with their treatment. By focusing on patient perspectives, this research lays the groundwork for developing more effective strategies to improve cancer care and survivorship outcomes.