Division of Health Care Research

Yutaka Matsuoka, Yosuke Uchitomi, Yasuhito Uezono, Eriko Satomi, Ken Shimizu, Masashi Kato, Sadamoto Zenda, Takuhiro Yamaguchi, Miki Kawahara, Tempei Miyaji, Chikako Kusano, Kyoko Akutsu, Yumi Kikukawa, Koji Washizuka, Ayako Sato, You-ichi Shimizu, Masanori Mori, Maiko Fujimori

Introduction

The Division of Health Care Research was established in January 2016. Our division focuses on behavioral and health care delivery research in cancer survivorship to enhance the quality of survival for all people diagnosed with cancer along with their family caregivers. Our division initiates interdisciplinary research programs ranging from basic bio-behavioral science to development, testing, and delivery of behavioral interventions in areas such as nutrition, physical activity, health communication, nursing, and mental health. Our division also manages the J-SUPPORT [Japan Supportive, Palliative and Psychosocial Oncology Group] as a central support office.

Our team and what we do

1.Bio-behavioral health research team

To enhance the quality of survival for all people diagnosed with cancer and to minimize or stabilize depression and anxiety experienced during cancer survivorship, we focus on diet, nutrition, and physical activity.

2.Communication and care delivery research team

To promote communication and decision-making process based on patients'values and preference between patients, caregivers, and physicians, we are conducting experimental psychological studies and clinical trials.

3.Family nursing and psychosocial support research team

To improve the quality of life for bereaved families of cancer patients, we focus on their satisfaction through care during hospitalization and resilience as a modifiable factor.

4.QOL outcome research team

To enhance the quality of J-SUPPORT endorsed trials, we provide design consultation, data management, monitoring, and statistical analysis. We tackle the selection of clinical outcome assessments through systematic reviews.

Research activities

1)We reported that post-trauma supplementation of omega-3 fatty acid might be effective for secondary prevention for psychophysiological symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder; the frequency of fried food consumption was associated with lower resilience to depression; exercise might be associated with depression thorough social support and resilience. We finished the recruitment of participants for prospective cohort study of acute coronary syndrome.

2)We conducted an experimental study to investigate the favorable patient-physician communication regarding cancer diagnosis and finished the recruitment.

3)We wrote two study protocols. The first one, which is regarding resilience was approved by Tohoku University and St. Luke's International Hospital. The second one, which is regarding satisfaction with care was approved by the Shizuoka Cancer Center. Both of the two projects launched their investigations.

4)We conducted systematic reviews on the selection of clinical outcome assessments for four major symptoms in the flied of supportive care. We conducted consultations for four clinical researches on research design, three clinical trials on statistical analysis and supported two clinical trials on quality management.

Education

We held a seminar regarding behavioral science:

1)Motohiro Nakajima, PhD (The University of Minnesota): Biopsychosocial correlates of smoking relapse: current findings and future directions

Future prospects

We are planning to start an evaluation research with a view of provision for making a cancer survivorship guideline. We plan to promote behavioral and health care delivery research for bridging evidence-practice gaps in the field of cancer survivorship. And we will continue to provide a consultation on research design and statistical analysis, and support clinical trials in terms of quality management.