The Brain, Behavior, and Cancer Seminar Series will feature Dr. Teresa Hagan Thomas for the next seminar. Dr. Hagan Thomas is Assistant Professor of Health Promotion & Development at the University of Pittsburgh School of Nursing. The series is sponsored by The Biobehavioral Oncology Program UPMC Hillman Cancer Center.

Abstract. When faced with the challenges of advanced cancer, women must advocate (or stand up) for their needs and priorities. Our research team’s previous work has qualitatively described and quantitatively created a measure and framework of the key dimensions female self-advocacy in cancer. However, there are no interventions to promote self-advocacy in patients with advanced cancer. Serious games offer a novel mechanism by which to deliver interactive, engaging health education but have not been systematically applied to self-advocacy or advanced cancer patient populations. The fully-automated Strong Together self-advocacy serious game may allow women with advanced cancer to learn self-advocacy skills and therefore improve their health outcomes. This presentation will describe the development and acceptability testing of this self-advocacy serious game along with a current study to evaluate the feasibility and initial efficacy of the trial.

Date/Time. Wednesday, May 16th, 2018, 12:00PM to 1:00PM

Location. UPMC Shadyside, Hillman Cancer Center, Cooper Classroom C. The Cooper Classrooms are located on the ground level of the Hillman Cancer Center, 5115 Centre Avenue, in Shadyside. After entering the building, walk to the left past the elevators. Facing the gift shop, turn right down the hallway. Room C is the 3rd door in the lobby area on the left.

For More Information. A light lunch provided. In order to ensure enough food is available, please RSVP to Darren Gilmartin at gilmartind@upmc.edu or contact him if you need directions or additional information. 

CME Faculty Disclosure. In accordance with Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education requirements on disclosure, information about relationships of presenters with commercial interests (if any) will be included in materials distributed at the time of the conference.

Continuing Medical Education Credit. The University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine is accredited by the ACCME to provide continuing medical education for physicians. The University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine designates this educational activity for a maximum of 1.0 AMA PRA Category 1 CreditsTM. Physicians should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity. Other health care professionals are awarded .10 continuing education units (CEUs) which are equal to 1.0 contact hours.