Papers by Gwendolyn Quinn
The 130th Annual Meeting …, 2002
The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA. 5131.0: Wednesday, November 13, 2002 - 12:45 PM. Abstract #3999... more The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA. 5131.0: Wednesday, November 13, 2002 - 12:45 PM. Abstract #39991. Behavioral Determinants of Folic Acid Use:A Social Marketing Perspective. Gwendolyn P Quinn, PhD, Terrance L. Albrecht, PhD, and Alayne G. Unterberger, MA. ...
Journal of clinical trials, Jan 21, 2012
In spite of the large number of nutrient-derived agents demonstrating promise as potential chemop... more In spite of the large number of nutrient-derived agents demonstrating promise as potential chemopreventive agents, most have failed to prove effectiveness in clinical trials. Critical requirements for moving nutrient-derived agents to recommendation for clinical use include adopting a systematic, molecular-mechanism based approach and utilizing the same ethical and rigorous methods such as are used to evaluate other pharmacological agents. Preliminary data on a mechanistic rationale for chemoprevention activity as observed from epidemiological, in vitro and preclinical studies, phase I data of safety in suitable cohorts, duration of intervention based on time to progression of preneoplastic disease to cancer and the use of a valid panel of biomarkers representing the hypothesized carcinogenesis pathway for measuring efficacy must inform the design of phase II clinical trials. The goal of this paper is to provide a model for evaluating a well characterized agent- Polyphenon E- in a p...
Cancer prevention research (Philadelphia, Pa.), Jan 14, 2015
Preclinical, epidemiological and prior clinical trial data suggest that green tea catechins (GTCs... more Preclinical, epidemiological and prior clinical trial data suggest that green tea catechins (GTCs) may reduce prostate cancer (PCa) risk. We conducted a placebo-controlled, randomized clinical trial of Polyphenon E® (PolyE), a proprietary mixture of GTCs, containing 400 mg (-)-epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) per day, in 97 men with high-grade prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia (HGPIN) and/or atypical small acinar proliferation (ASAP). The primary study endpoint was a comparison of the cumulative one-year PCa rates on the two study arms. No differences in the number of PCa cases were observed: 5/49 (PolyE) versus 9/48 (placebo), P=0.25. A secondary endpoint comparing the cumulative rate of PCa plus ASAP among men with HGPIN without ASAP at baseline, revealed a decrease in this composite endpoint: 3/26 (PolyE) versus 10/25 (placebo), P<0.024. This finding was driven by a decrease in ASAP diagnoses on the Poly E (0/26) compared to the placebo arm (5/25). A decrease in serum prost...
Contemporary Clinical Trials, 2012
Objective-The goal of this report is to describe the on going strategies, successes, challenges a... more Objective-The goal of this report is to describe the on going strategies, successes, challenges and solutions for recruitment in this multi-center, phase II chemoprevention trial targeting men at high risk for prostate cancer.
Biology of Blood and Marrow Transplantation, 2013
Cancer, 2015
To the authors&amp;amp;amp;amp;#39; knowledge, little is known regarding the rate at which ca... more To the authors&amp;amp;amp;amp;#39; knowledge, little is known regarding the rate at which cancer survivors successfully adopt a child or about their experiences negotiating a costly, and perhaps discriminatory, process regarding the prospective parent&amp;amp;amp;amp;#39;s health history. The current study describes the results of a learning activity in which nurses contacted an adoption agency to learn more about the process for survivors with the goal of helping nurses provide patients with accurate information for making a well-informed decision regarding adoption. Training program participants identified an adoption agency (local, state, or international) and conducted an interview using a semistructured guide. After the interview, participants created a summary of responses to the questions. The authors examined responses to each question using qualitative content analysis. A total of 77 participants (98% completion rate) across 15 states provided a summary. Responses were distributed across the following categories: adoption costs, steps required for survivors seeking adoption, challenges for survivors seeking adoption, birth parents&amp;amp;amp;amp;#39; reservations, and planned institutional changes to increase adoption awareness. The majority of respondents reported improving their knowledge of adoption and cancer, increased challenges for survivors, and the need to educate patients concerning the realities of adoption policies. The need for a letter stating the survivor was 5 years cancer free was identified as a significant obstacle for survivors. Nurses are charged with following practice guidelines that include recommendations for appropriate reproductive health referrals. Cancer survivors would benefit from a health care provider who can provide education and concrete information when patients are making a decision about fertility and adoption.
CA: a cancer journal for clinicians, Jan 17, 2015
This article provides an overview of the current literature on seven cancer sites that may dispro... more This article provides an overview of the current literature on seven cancer sites that may disproportionately affect lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender/transsexual, and queer/questioning (LGBTQ) populations. For each cancer site, the authors present and discuss the descriptive statistics, primary prevention, secondary prevention and preclinical disease, tertiary prevention and late-stage disease, and clinical implications. Finally, an overview of psychosocial factors related to cancer survivorship is offered as well as strategies for improving access to care. CA Cancer J Clin 2015. © 2015 American Cancer Society.
Cancer, 2015
Visions for the future are a normal developmental process for adolescents and young adults (AYAs)... more Visions for the future are a normal developmental process for adolescents and young adults (AYAs) with and without cancer, and these visions often include expectations of sexual and romantic relationships. AYA cancer survivors indicate reproductive health is an issue of great importance and more attention is needed in the health care setting throughout the cancer experience, beginning at diagnosis. Various practice guidelines are predominately focused on fertility; are intended to influence survivorship care plans; and do not encompass the broad scope of reproductive health that includes romantic partnering, friendships, body image, sexuality, sexual identity, fertility, contraception, and more. Although interventions to reduce reproductive health-related sequelae from treatment are best approached as an evolving process, practitioners are not certain of the priorities of these various reproductive health content areas. Strategies incongruent with the reproductive health priorities of AYAs will likely thwart adequate follow-up care and foster feelings of isolation from the treatment team. Research is needed to identify these priorities and ensure discussions of diverse content areas. This review explored various domains of reproductive health and emphasized how understanding the priorities of the AYA cancer cohort will guide future models of care.
Journal of Clinical Trials, 2014
While chemoprevention with botanicals shows promise in reducing cancer risk, recruitment and rete... more While chemoprevention with botanicals shows promise in reducing cancer risk, recruitment and retention of participants for trials continues to be costly and presents unique challenges. Knowledge of interest, willingness of target populations and evaluation of design challenges are critical to improve accrual in these chemoprevention trials. The study assessed interest and willingness of former smokers to participate in a chemoprevention trial using a botanical agent. An introductory letter and survey instrument were mailed to 609 consecutive, former heavy smokers, with no cancer, from a database of 826 subjects at the Moffitt Cancer Center. 202 (40.4%) subjects returned completed surveys. 92-96% reported interest in receiving free lung exams and knowing their lung cancer risk. 88% were interested in participating in a trial evaluating a botanical agent for lung cancer prevention. Over 92% of subjects reported willingness to comply with study requirements; multiple blood draws and trips to the Center, spiral CTs and chest x-rays. Subjects were relatively less enthusiastic (73-79%) about bronchoscopy, taking multiple study agents and assignment to placebo arm. Our study strongly suggests feasibility, highlights potential challenges and the significant interest and willingness of this exceptionally high risk population to participate in chemoprevention trials.
Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev, 2014
Background: No validated multiscale instruments exist that measure community members’ views on bi... more Background: No validated multiscale instruments exist that measure community members’ views on biobanking and biospecimen donation. This study describes the development and psychometric properties of the English-language BANKS (Biobanking Attitudes and Knowledge Survey).
Methods: The BANKS was created by item generation through review of scientific literature, focus groups with community members, and input from a community advisory board. Items were refined through cognitive interviews. Content validity was assessed through an expert panel review. Psychometric properties of the BANKS were assessed in a sample of 85 community members.
Results: The final BANKS includes three scales: attitudes, knowledge, and self-efficacy; as well as three single items, which evaluated receptivity and intention to donate a biospecimen for research. Cronbach a coefficients for two scales that use Likert response format indicated high internal consistency (attitudes: a, 0.88; self-efficacy: a, 0.95). Content validity indices were moderate, ranging from 0.69 to 0.89. Intention to donate blood and intention to donate urine were positively correlated with attitudes, knowledge, self-efficacy, and receptivity to learning more about biobanking (P values range from 0.029 to <0.001).
Conclusions: The final BANKS shows evidence of satisfactory reliability and validity, is easy to administer, and is a promising tool to inform biospecimen research. Additional studies should be conducted with larger samples considering biospecimen donation to further assess the reliability and validity of the instrument.
Impact: A valid and reliable instrument measuring community members’ views about biobanking may help researchers evaluate relevant communication interventions to enhance understanding, intention, and actual biospecimen donation. A Spanish-language BANKS is under development.
Journal of Cancer Survivorship, 2013
The American Journal of Bioethics, 2012
Journal of Cancer …, Jan 1, 2012
Preparing healthy community members with timely communications prior to engaging them in a reques... more Preparing healthy community members with timely communications prior to engaging them in a request to donate biospecimens promises to improve the experience of biobanking participation. To this end, a qualitative study was conducted to assess community member knowledge, attitudes, beliefs, and informational needs about cancer-related biospecimen collection in a large metropolitan area in southwest Florida. The study utilized purposive sampling techniques to recruit a total of 95 participants to participate in 12 focus groups, segmented by race/ethnicity and language preference (mixed race, African American only, and Spanish speaking) and age (18–29, 30–54, and 55 and older). Focus group interviews were analyzed using content analysis to identify emergent themes. Overall, participants in the 30 years and older groups were favorable toward participating in biobanking if their concerns were addressed, such as confidentiality and consent issues, in contrast to participants aged 18–29 who were more skeptical. For all participants, the desire to participate in research that seeks new cancer treatments outweighed mistrust. Moreover, many cited the potential scientific benefit for future generations as a primary motivator. Finally, in some groups a therapeutic misconception was expressed, where participants expressed a willingness to forego confidentiality of their health status in exchange for therapeutic benefit. This study contributes to the literature on community perceptions of the benefits and barriers of biobanking and adds to the development of meaningful education communication priming tools to advance understandings about biobanking.
Cancer, 2014
The lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender/transsexual, queer/questioning, and intersex population e... more The lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender/transsexual, queer/questioning, and intersex population experiences cancer health disparities due to a lack of disclosure and knowledge regarding increased cancer risk. Oncology health care providers and institutions should create environments that encourage the disclosure of sexual orientation and identity. Cancer 2014. © 2014 American Cancer Society.
Genetics in Medicine, 2011
Supportive Care in Cancer, 2012
Fertility is a concern for many cancer patients diagnosed during their reproductive years. Althou... more Fertility is a concern for many cancer patients diagnosed during their reproductive years. Although African American women are more likely to be diagnosed with early breast cancer (i.e., ≤age 40), little is known about patient awareness of or provider discussion related to fertility in this group. We examined African American women&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;#39;s awareness of the possible impact of cancer treatment on fertility. In a cross-sectional survey of African American women with early-onset breast cancer, demographic and clinical variables were compared with patient awareness and physician discussion of potential fertility loss. For women in our sample (N = 48), 45.8% reported being aware of the potential impact of cancer treatment on fertility, and 56.3% reported that their providers discussed fertility with them. Bivariate analyses demonstrated that awareness was significantly higher in women diagnosed at age ≤45 (p &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt; 0.05), who were nulliparous (p &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt; 0.01), or who did not have tubal ligation (p &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt; 0.001). Provider discussion was more often reported by patients who were diagnosed in stages 2/3 (p &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt; 0.05) and had no children (p &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt; 0.01). Study results suggest potential health disparities in reproductive health among early-onset breast cancer patients and demonstrate missed clinical opportunities to provide information about fertility that may impact long-term quality of life in early-onset African American breast cancer patients.
Biology of Blood and Marrow Transplantation, 2011
... of Blood and Marrow Transplantation, Volume 17, Issue 2, Pages S240, February 2011, Authors:N... more ... of Blood and Marrow Transplantation, Volume 17, Issue 2, Pages S240, February 2011, Authors:NS Majhail; G. Quinn; R. Brzauskas; Z. Wang; E. Chow; M. Gilleece; J. Halter; S. Joshi; J. Pidala; B. Bolwell; D. Jacobsohn; G. Socie; M. Sorror; JR Wingard; JD Rizzo; A. Loren. ...
Oncology Nursing Forum, 2010
Purpose/Objectives-To explore perceptions of colorectal cancer (CRC) and self-reported CRC screen... more Purpose/Objectives-To explore perceptions of colorectal cancer (CRC) and self-reported CRC screening behaviors among ethnic subgroups of U.S. blacks.
Patient Education and Counseling, 2003
Communication between patients and physicians likely mediates traditional patient and physician p... more Communication between patients and physicians likely mediates traditional patient and physician predispositions in determining patient outcomes, including perceptions and decision making. However, the extent to which a mediating effect occurs is unclear. The purpose of this essay is to outline the need for conceptualizing more holistic models of consumer-provider interaction that demonstrate the role of the therapeutic relationship in treatment outcomes. We focus on an important communicative context for exploring this question: the situation where patients, with the help of oncologists, are faced with making treatment choices, particularly whether to enroll in a clinical trial in response to their life-threatening cancer diagnosis. We explore the question from the perspectives of the medical provider, the patient, and the accompanying family member, in order to better frame the complex interactional dynamics occurring during the interaction.
Psycho-oncology, 2011
Focus on cancer survivorship and quality of life (QOL) is a growing priority. The aim of this stu... more Focus on cancer survivorship and quality of life (QOL) is a growing priority. The aim of this study was to identify and describe the most salient psychosocial concerns related to sexual functioning among African-American (AA) prostate cancer survivors and their spouses.
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Papers by Gwendolyn Quinn
Methods: The BANKS was created by item generation through review of scientific literature, focus groups with community members, and input from a community advisory board. Items were refined through cognitive interviews. Content validity was assessed through an expert panel review. Psychometric properties of the BANKS were assessed in a sample of 85 community members.
Results: The final BANKS includes three scales: attitudes, knowledge, and self-efficacy; as well as three single items, which evaluated receptivity and intention to donate a biospecimen for research. Cronbach a coefficients for two scales that use Likert response format indicated high internal consistency (attitudes: a, 0.88; self-efficacy: a, 0.95). Content validity indices were moderate, ranging from 0.69 to 0.89. Intention to donate blood and intention to donate urine were positively correlated with attitudes, knowledge, self-efficacy, and receptivity to learning more about biobanking (P values range from 0.029 to <0.001).
Conclusions: The final BANKS shows evidence of satisfactory reliability and validity, is easy to administer, and is a promising tool to inform biospecimen research. Additional studies should be conducted with larger samples considering biospecimen donation to further assess the reliability and validity of the instrument.
Impact: A valid and reliable instrument measuring community members’ views about biobanking may help researchers evaluate relevant communication interventions to enhance understanding, intention, and actual biospecimen donation. A Spanish-language BANKS is under development.
Methods: The BANKS was created by item generation through review of scientific literature, focus groups with community members, and input from a community advisory board. Items were refined through cognitive interviews. Content validity was assessed through an expert panel review. Psychometric properties of the BANKS were assessed in a sample of 85 community members.
Results: The final BANKS includes three scales: attitudes, knowledge, and self-efficacy; as well as three single items, which evaluated receptivity and intention to donate a biospecimen for research. Cronbach a coefficients for two scales that use Likert response format indicated high internal consistency (attitudes: a, 0.88; self-efficacy: a, 0.95). Content validity indices were moderate, ranging from 0.69 to 0.89. Intention to donate blood and intention to donate urine were positively correlated with attitudes, knowledge, self-efficacy, and receptivity to learning more about biobanking (P values range from 0.029 to <0.001).
Conclusions: The final BANKS shows evidence of satisfactory reliability and validity, is easy to administer, and is a promising tool to inform biospecimen research. Additional studies should be conducted with larger samples considering biospecimen donation to further assess the reliability and validity of the instrument.
Impact: A valid and reliable instrument measuring community members’ views about biobanking may help researchers evaluate relevant communication interventions to enhance understanding, intention, and actual biospecimen donation. A Spanish-language BANKS is under development.