"Thrive@Home: Randomized-Controlled Trial of a Biobehavioral-Environmental Approach to Promote Activity and Reduce Symptom Interference during Breast Cancer Survivorship"

 

Dr. Walker investigates solutions for creating and maintaining a sense of well-being, capability, activity, and dignity while aging with cancer and other forms of chronic illness. Her research involves modifying personal environments to fit the unique symptoms, physical abilities, and sensory characteristics of individuals so they can feel better and stay physically active and engaged in valued activities. This work incorporates universal assessment and person-driven goal-setting, making changes to home or work spaces, and personalized health monitoring devices. Dr. Walker will use her residency in the ISSR Scholars Program to develop an intervention (Thrive@Home) designed to promote activity and reduce sedentarism and symptom interference with functioning following cancer treatment.

 

Recent Publicactions:

• Walker, R. K., S. L. Szanton, and J. Wenzel. In press. "Supporting Working for Normalcy Post-treatment: Guidance from a Qualitative Study of Breast and Prostate Cancer Survivors." Oncology Nursing Forum.  Scheduled November 2015.
• Szanton, S. L., J. Roth, M. Nkimberg, J. Savage, and R. Klimmek . 2014. "Improving Unsafe Environments to Support Aging Independence with Limited Resources." Nursing Clinics of North America 49(2): 133-45. DOI: 10.1016/j.cnur.2014.02.002. Epub 2014 Mar 27. **This paper is now required reading by the committee revising national guidelines for the Joint Commission for Home Health. 
• Klimmek, R.  and J. Wenzel. 2012. "Adaptation of the Illness Trajectory Theory to Describe the Work of Transitional Cancer Survivorship." Oncology Nursing Forum 39(6): E499-E510.
• Klimmek, R., E. Noyes, K. Edington-Saunders, C. Logue, R. Jones, and J. Wenzel. 2012. "Training of Community Health Workers to Deliver Cancer Patient Navigation to Rural African American Seniors." Progress in Community Health Partnerships 6(2): 167-174.
• Klimmek, R. K., D. Snow, and J. Wenzel. 2010. "Financial and Insurance-related Challenges Reported by Managed Care Enrollees with Breast Cancer." Clinical Journal of Oncology Nursing 14(5): 598-606.

Keywords: nursing research, translational science, activity, sedentary behaviors, symptoms, gerontological nursing, aging, cancer survivorship, chronic illness, behavioral science, implementation science, personalized health monitoring, wearable sensors, activity trackers, person-environment fit, environmental gerontology, community-based participatory research, health disparities