ORCID Profile
0000-0003-4066-3637
Current Organisations
Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre
,
Orygen The National Centre of Excellence in Youth Mental Health
,
University of Melbourne
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Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 12-2021
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 04-03-2022
DOI: 10.1007/S44202-022-00035-5
Abstract: Anxiety disorders are the most prevalent mental health disorder experienced by men. If left untreated, anxiety is predictive of psychiatric disorders including depression and associated suicide risk. Despite the prevalence and impact of men’s anxiety, it remains largely overlooked in the field of men’s mental health. Globally, men are reported to have lower rates of anxiety disorders compared to women however, these sex-differences do not reflect the complexity and nuance of men’s experiences. There is early evidence to suggest a male-type anxiety phenotype which may go undetected with generic diagnostic classifications. Masculine norms (i.e., stoicism, toughness, invulnerability) appear to be central to men’s experiences and expressions of anxiety as well as men’s help-seeking and coping behaviours. This is particularly concerning given anxiety increases men’s risk of physical and psychological comorbidities and suicide risk. The effective assessment, detection and treatment of men’s anxiety is therefore critical to improve mental health outcomes across the male lifespan. We propose three key recommendations for the field of men’s anxiety: (i) to develop a theoretical model surrounding men’s experiences of anxiety, (ii) broaden mental health resources, interventions and suicide prevention strategies to encompass men’s gendered experiences of anxiety (e.g., sentiments of shame, physical symptom manifestation), and (iii) utilise informal supports (i.e., friends and family) as an avenue of intervention to improve men’s anxiety outcomes. Without a substantial research agenda in men’s anxiety, we will fail to recognise and respond to men’s gendered experiences of anxiety and ultimately fail to reduce male suicides.
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 09-07-2022
DOI: 10.1007/S00520-022-07228-7
Abstract: This study aimed to determine the healthcare experiences, quality of life, and psychosocial needs of patients with cancer of unknown primary (CUP) early after diagnosis comparing their experiences to patients with advanced cancer of a known primary (non-CUP control patients) and published general population reference data where available. This study was a cross-sectional, multi-site study comparing CUP patients ( n = 139) compared to non-CUP controls ( n = 45). Demographic, clinical information and patient-reported outcome questionnaire data were collected at baseline. Differences in healthcare experienced were found between CUP and non-CUP controls with CUP patients reporting higher scores for unmet medical communication/information needs compared with non-CUP control patients ( p = 0.013) as well as greater uncertainty in illness ( p = 0.042). Whilst no differences were found between CUP and non-CUP controls on the EORTC and PROMIS measures, of those that ‘received written information about your cancer…’ and asked ‘…how useful was it?’ fewer CUP patients reported finding the information useful 40% vs 61%, and more were likely to not have received written information at all 59% vs 32% ( p = 0.002). Additionally, of those that found information about their cancer online, fewer patients with CUP reported finding it useful 32% vs 48% control patients ( p = 0.005). CUP patients have unmet medical communication/information needs and greater uncertainty in illness but do not differ in health-related quality of life domains compared to patients with advanced cancer of a known primary.
Publisher: Center for Open Science
Date: 04-10-2023
Publisher: JMIR Publications Inc.
Date: 03-12-2019
DOI: 10.2196/14361
Abstract: Online information resources and support have been demonstrated to positively influence the well-being of people diagnosed with cancer. This has been explored in past literature for more common cancers however, for rare cancers, such as neuroendocrine tumors (NETs), there are little to no support or resources available. Despite relatively good prognoses, the quality of life (QoL) of patients with NETs is significantly lower compared with s les of mixed cancer patients and the general population. Patients with NETs also typically report unclear and difficult pathways of disease management and treatment, given the heterogeneity of the diagnosis. There is a vital need to improve the availability of disease-specific information for this patient group and provide supportive care that is tailored to the unique needs of the NET patient population. This study described the protocol of a study aimed to better understand the outcomes and experiences of patients diagnosed with NETs and to develop and pilot test a nurse-led online and phone-based intervention that will provide tailored supportive care targeted to NET subgroups (functioning vs nonfunctioning). This is a multisite cohort with 3 phases, incorporating both quantitative and qualitative data collection. Phase 1 is a mixed methods prospective cohort study of NET patients identifying differences in patient experiences and priority of needs between NET subgroups. Phase 2 utilizes results from phase 1 to develop an online and nurse-led phone-based intervention. Phase 3 is to pilot test and evaluate the intervention’s acceptability, appropriateness, and feasibility. Currently, the project is progressing through phase 1 and has completed recruitment. A total of 138 participants have been recruited to the study. To date, patient-reported outcome data from 123 participants at baseline and 87 participants at 6-month follow-up have been collected. Of these, qualitative data from semistructured interviews from 35 participants have also been obtained. Phase 2 and phase 3 of the project are yet to be completed. Limited research for patients with NETs suggests that QoL and patient experiences are significantly impaired compared with the general population. Furthermore, past research has failed to delineate how the clinical variability between those with functioning and nonfunctioning NETs impacts patient supportive care needs. This study will improve on the availability of disease-specific information as well as informing the design of a nurse-led online and phone-based supportive care intervention tailored for the unique needs of the NET patient population. DERR1-10.2196/14361
Publisher: Center for Open Science
Date: 17-10-2023
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 05-08-2022
DOI: 10.1002/HPJA.524
Abstract: Many men are challenged by barriers to mental health help‐seeking and engagement. For men who do access care, their pathways to engaging services can offer important insights to what might constitute gender‐specific care. Data were drawn from an online cross‐sectional survey of N = 2009 Australian men (aged 16‐85 M = 43.5) reflecting on their initial pathways to mental health services, including their reasons for help‐seeking, how they first located a therapist and the source of any initial recommendation for engaging with services. Respondents were recruited with targeted advertisements via Movember's Facebook page. A relatively even age distribution was observed, with most respondents residing in metropolitan areas (60.4%), a majority employed full time (47.7%), and 25.7% identifying as gay or bisexual. Participants tended to be self‐motivated to seek help, with referrals by general practitioners to specialist mental health services. The most common underpinning precipitant for seeking help was anxiety, particularly for younger men, whereas older men tended to have sought help more commonly for familial, relationship or work‐related factors. Older men were also more likely to report self‐motivated help‐seeking, whereas younger men more commonly sought help on the recommendation of a family member. There are varied pathways for men's initial mental health help‐seeking journeys that require an ongoing examination to ensure health promotion efforts are appropriately tailored and responding to men's needs. As more men access mental health services, having a nuanced understanding of their likely pathways to care can inform the help‐seeking efforts of other men as well as guide improved services and systems to reduce barriers.
Publisher: JMIR Publications Inc.
Date: 12-04-2019
Abstract: nline information resources and support have been demonstrated to positively influence the well-being of people diagnosed with cancer. This has been explored in past literature for more common cancers however, for rare cancers, such as neuroendocrine tumors (NETs), there are little to no support or resources available. Despite relatively good prognoses, the quality of life (QoL) of patients with NETs is significantly lower compared with s les of mixed cancer patients and the general population. Patients with NETs also typically report unclear and difficult pathways of disease management and treatment, given the heterogeneity of the diagnosis. There is a vital need to improve the availability of disease-specific information for this patient group and provide supportive care that is tailored to the unique needs of the NET patient population. his study described the protocol of a study aimed to better understand the outcomes and experiences of patients diagnosed with NETs and to develop and pilot test a nurse-led online and phone-based intervention that will provide tailored supportive care targeted to NET subgroups (functioning vs nonfunctioning). his is a multisite cohort with 3 phases, incorporating both quantitative and qualitative data collection. Phase 1 is a mixed methods prospective cohort study of NET patients identifying differences in patient experiences and priority of needs between NET subgroups. Phase 2 utilizes results from phase 1 to develop an online and nurse-led phone-based intervention. Phase 3 is to pilot test and evaluate the intervention’s acceptability, appropriateness, and feasibility. urrently, the project is progressing through phase 1 and has completed recruitment. A total of 138 participants have been recruited to the study. To date, patient-reported outcome data from 123 participants at baseline and 87 participants at 6-month follow-up have been collected. Of these, qualitative data from semistructured interviews from 35 participants have also been obtained. Phase 2 and phase 3 of the project are yet to be completed. imited research for patients with NETs suggests that QoL and patient experiences are significantly impaired compared with the general population. Furthermore, past research has failed to delineate how the clinical variability between those with functioning and nonfunctioning NETs impacts patient supportive care needs. This study will improve on the availability of disease-specific information as well as informing the design of a nurse-led online and phone-based supportive care intervention tailored for the unique needs of the NET patient population. ERR1-10.2196/14361
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 09-04-2023
Abstract: Anxiety is the most prevalent mental disorder experienced by young men, and when untreated, is predictive of co‐morbid mental health challenges and suicide. Despite the rising prevalence, there is a conspicuous absence of qualitative research to distil and theorise young men’s anxiety. Twenty‐five young Australian men (15–25 years), who had been diagnosed with an anxiety disorder or self‐reported anxiety symptoms, took part in in idual semi‐structured interviews. Interviews were transcribed verbatim and analysed using a constructivist grounded theory approach. A three‐process grounded theory (Resisting‐Reckoning‐Responding Triple R Anxiety Model) depicted young men’s experiences of anxiety, gilded and guided by their masculine socialisation. Initially, young men noticed somatic symptoms (i.e., headaches, nausea and myalgia) but did not connect these symptoms to anxiety. Avoiding anxiety (e.g., denying, distracting) proved unhelpful in the longer term and as symptoms diffused, a subsequent process of reckoning anxiety (i.e., meaning making) ensued. As young men gained insight to the life limiting bounds of their anxiety, some were prompted towards actions of acceptance, seeking help proactively and employing strength‐based adaptive coping strategies. This theoretical conceptualisation of young men’s anxiety has the capacity to enhance identification and treatment efforts, improving young men’s mental health outcomes across the lifespan.
Location: Australia
No related grants have been discovered for Krista Fisher.