Research Supplements for Underrepresented Minorities

Grant #: R01 CA 94827
PI Name: Kathleen R. Ell
Student: Isabel Lagomasino, MD
Title: Minority Supplement: Improving Patient Adherence to Cancer Treatment

Dr. Lagomasino's additional research activities will benefit the parent grant in several ways. Using quantitative analyses, she conducts a close examination of depression care utilization and outcomes both in usual practice and in the IMPAACT intervention, adding to our knowledge regarding current depression care in public sector oncology and to our examination of the effectiveness of the IMPAACT intervention. She also surveys oncologists to gain a needed understanding of their knowledge and attitudes towards providing depression care. Using qualitative methods, she conducts an in-depth, qualitative exploration of some the patient, family, and provider level barriers to depression care that are of original interest to study investigators.

Dr. Lagomasino then explores strategies to improve depression care for minority patients with cancer by tailoring depression interventions known to be effective with other populations and in other settings to local oncology practices, thus contributing her experience in depression care research with Latinos to the resources to parent grant investigators. As a consultation-liaison psychiatrist, her particular expertise in antidepressant treatment among the medically ill, will serve as a resource for providers and help her address the barriers to this treatment among all groups.

*Information on the parent project: Ell, 1R01CA094827-1