St. Boniface Hospital Research

Dr. Lesley Degner



Dr. Lesley Degner
Distinguished Professor and CHSRF/CIHR Chair in Cancer
Psychosocial Oncology and Cancer Nursing Research

Research Focus

Dr. Degner’s current research is focused on how nurses can be assisted to use the latest research evidence in their daily practice. She is involved in two major studies to better understand how health care organizations can alter the context for care within their organizations to promote knowledge use by nurses and in turn improve patient outcomes. She is also interested in the effect such organizational interventions might have on the quality of nursing work life, and whether involvement in knowledge translation activities will promote the retention of new nurses moving into the work force.

This current interest has evolved after several decades of research on patient participation in decision making, patient information needs, the meaning that patients ascribe to their illness, and symptom management. Dr. Degner has been particularly interested in developing measures and interventions to help cancer patients become more involved in treatment decision making should they wish to do so, and one of her major articles in this field which was published in 1997 in the prestigious Journal of the American Medical Association is highly cited and used in teaching medical students internationally. She has also had a long standing interest in symptom management, particularly in lung cancer patients, who experience some of the most severe cancer-related symptoms. In an article published in the medical journal Cancer in 2005, she and her Swedish colleagues reported on a longitudinal study of 400 lung cancer patients and their symptom experiences, and provided a model for preventative symptom management in this population.

Why is this work important?

Dr. Degner’s past research led to the development of three measures: the Control Preferences Scale, the Information Needs Scale, and the Meaning of Illness Scale. All of these are now used internationally in both research and clinical practice. They have also been used in health care policy documents in Canada, the United States, and the United Kingdom, and have stimulated the evaluation of a number of clinical interventions to improve quality of life for cancer patients, particularly those with breast and prostate cancer. Her most recent measure of symptom distress in lung cancer provides a new approach for clinicians to understand which symptoms individual patients would find most distressing and therefore provide the information on which to design preventive symptom management.

Her current work involves testing models of organizational change that could lead to substantial improvements in patient outcomes and improvements in nursing work life. The goal is to ensure that new knowledge actually makes its way into daily health care practice, which is not always the case at present.

About Lesley Degner, R.N., Ph.D., FCAHS

Lesley Degner is an internationally recognized scholar and researcher in patient involvement in medical decision making. In 1987, Dr. Degner published, Life-Death Decisions in Health Care, a groundbreaking book outlining the factors that influence the way treatment decisions are made for patients with life-threatening illnesses. The theory described in this book formed the basis of Dr. Degner’s subsequent development of the Control Preferences Scale and the Information Needs Scale, measurement tools which are now used by investigators internationally.

Dr. Degner’s research into informational needs, decision making preferences and the meaning of illness in women with breast cancer also included comparative studies in England and Sweden. In a paper published in Cancer Nursing in 2003, she described a new way of measuring how women with breast cancer derive meaning from their experiences. This paper won the Research Article of the Year Award, and the model it describes is an important new tool for clinicians communicating with breast cancer patients.

A graduate of the universities of Manitoba, Washington, and Michigan, Dr. Degner joined the University of Manitoba in 1973. She currently holds a 10 year National Research Chair from the Canadian Health Services Research Foundation and the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, to support her program entitled, “Development of Evidence-Based Nursing Practice in Cancer Care, Palliative Care and Cancer Prevention.”

For more information, please contact:

Dr. Lesley Degner
Email. Lesley_Degner@umanitoba.ca

Scheduling Assistant:
Tel. 204.474.6622
Email. Sylvie_Winslow@umanitoba.ca

In Detail

Dr. Degner’s current research interests are focused in the field of knowledge translation, or how to get research evidence that could improve patient outcomes into practice.

1. Evaluation of an Organizational Intervention to Improve Nursing Work Life through Training in Knowledge Translation: Phase I: Creating a Nursing Work Life “Geography” of the Target Organization

Funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, $300,000, 2005-2008

Dr. Degner is the Principal Investigator on this project. The proposed organizational intervention is the introduction of The Nursing Knowledge Translation (KT) Centre, a geographical site within a major tertiary hospital that would be staffed by individuals trained in KT who would in turn provide such training to front-line nurses. The conceptualization for the intervention emerged from participant observation with front-line nurses who are at present unable to participate in KT on a regular basis. Nurses in the intervention arm of the study would have four paid hours per month when they would be assigned to work in the Centre. Nurse volunteers from particular patient care units would select through a consensus process one patient outcome they would like to improve. That selected patient outcome would be measured every six months to provide the nurses with feedback on the extent to which they had been able to shift the outcome through KT. The primary endpoints for the intervention study will be nursing work life, including absenteeism and several indicators of nursing work life previously developed and validated by Laschinger and colleagues. The new brief forms of these inventories will be tested in Phase I of the research program. The concept is that we will create a nursing work life “geography” of the target organization in order to inform decisions about the selection of the research design for the intervention study and to permit calculation of the required sample sizes. The secondary endpoint is a new measure of knowledge utilization being developed by Estabrooks.

2. TREC: Translating Research in Elder Care

Funded by the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, $4.7 million, 2007-2012

Dr. Degner is the Manitoba Site Lead for this project, which is being conducted in the three prairie provinces, as well as leader of one of the three major projects (specifically the project to understand the effect of organizational context on knowledge use in practice) in this research program. Dr. Carole Estabrooks of the University of Alberta Faculty of Nursing is the Principal Investigator.

This is the second phase (2007-2012) of a long-term investigation into the determinants and processes of using research based knowledge in health care settings. The purpose of the overarching program (2002-2022) is to develop a robust theoretical understanding of knowledge translation in action to facilitate changes that result in better outcomes. The purpose of the five year program of research described here is to address the impact of context (i.e., organizational setting and environmental factors) on knowledge translation and the subsequent impact of knowledge translation on health outcomes (and secondarily on provider and system outcomes) in long term care facilities (nursing homes) in the three prairie provinces. We will be guided by the Promoting Action on Research Implementation in Health Services (PARIHS) framework which proposes three components to successful research implementation. In this framework, context is one of three central concepts (along with facilitation and evidence) that influence the use of research by providers in healthcare settings. While we will use the entire framework, we will focus in particular on the context dimension. Context and its social processes are central to optimal knowledge production and use in healthcare settings and are increasingly recognized as central to understanding knowledge translation in complex health care organizations.

Program Aims:

  • 1. To build knowledge translation theory about the role of context in influencing knowledge use in long term care settings and among non-professional care givers by:
    • Developing an organizational monitoring system to profile context in long term care facilities
    • Collecting in-depth organizational data including process change over time
    • 1.3 Assessing the effect of context on the extent of implementation of an intervention over time and the reciprocal effect of implementing the intervention on context over time
  • To pilot innovative knowledge translation interventions
  • To contribute to enhanced use of new knowledge in long term care

The program of research is comprised of three major projects addressing aim one, and three pilot projects addressing aim two. Aim three is addressed throughout each project and by our return on investment activities. Project 1 builds our understanding of context by implementing an organizational monitoring program in long term care. This is a sophisticated 30 facility project where we will build a comprehensive quantitative profile of context, knowledge translation behaviours and resident outcomes with which to generate and test theory. We will do multi-level and other modeling to test the general hypothesis that a positive context results in more knowledge translation and better resident outcomes. Project 2 builds our understanding of context by conducting three comprehensive, in-depth, comparative case studies and six more focused comparative case studies in each province to develop thick descriptions of context and its processes, and to generate substantive theory. In Project 3 we implement and evaluate an enhanced audit and feedback intervention in 12 facilities in the prairies. Using three clinical areas (pain, falls, behaviour management), we will implement a series of rapid feedback cycles using tailored education materials and feedback reports derived from routinely collected resident data (MDS/RAI). The intervention will be conducted over 18 months, with six quarterly cycles. Analyses will occur within each project and we will also conduct integrated analyses where we use the findings of each project to inform the interpretations of the others. Pilot projects addressing new interventions to increase knowledge translation, one aimed at each level of provider (managers, regulated and unregulated providers) have been planned to launch in the first year in order to enable those investigators to use pilot data to develop full operating grants.

Serious advances in the understanding of knowledge translation require multidisciplinary and multi-method approaches. We have assembled a group of researchers bringing together several health and non-health disciplines. In addition, we are experienced in different methodological and multi-method approaches. We jointly focus on multiple levels of observation and analysis – micro (clinical, professional), meso (organizational), and macro (regional, provincial) – in our respective programs.

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Books

Degner, L. F., & Beaton, J. I. (1987). Life-death decisions in health care. New York: Hemisphere Publishing Corporation.

Refereed Journals

Singh, J.A., Sloan, J., Huschka, M., Atherton, P., Degner, L., Hack, T.F., Smith, T., Rummans, T., Clark, M., & Diekmann, B. (2010). What role do cancer patients want to play in treatment decision making?: A pooled-analysis. American Journal of Managed Care, 16, 688-696.

Hack, T.F., Pickles, T., Ruether, J.D., Weir, L., Bultz, B.D., Mackey, J. & Degner, L.F. (2010). Predictors of distress and quality of life in patients undergoing cancer therapy: Impact of treatment type and decisional role. Psycho-Oncology, 19, 606-616.

Hack, T.F., Pickles, T., Ruether, J.D., Weir, L., Bultz, B.D. & Degner, L.F. (2010). Behind closed doors: Systematic analysis of breast cancer consultation communication and predictors of satisfaction with communication. Psycho-Oncology, 19, 626-636.

Yu Ko, W.F., Degner, L.F., Hack, T.F. & Schroeder, G. (2010). Penile length shortening after radical prostatectomy: Men’s responses. European Journal of Oncology Nursing, 14, 160-165.

Estabrooks, C.A., Hutchinson, A.M., Squires, J.E., Birdsell, J., Cummings, G.G., Degner, L., Morgan, D. & Norton, P.G. (2009). Translating research in elder care: an introduction to a study protocol series. Implementation Science, 4-51.

Rycroft-Malone, J., Dopson, S., Degner, L., Hutchinson, A.M., Morgan, D., Stewart, N. & Estabrooks, C.A. (2009). Study protocol for the translating research in elder care (TREC): building context through case studies in long-term care project (project two). Implementation Science, 4-53.

Lally, R.M., Chalmers, K.L., Johnson, J., Kokima, M., Endo, E., Suzuki, S., Lai, Y., Yang, Y., Degner, L., Anderson, E., Molassiotis, A. (2008). Smoking behavior and patient education practices of oncology nurses in six countries. European Journal of Oncology Nursing, 12, 372-379.

Loiselle, C.G., Sitaram, B., Hack, T.F., Bottorff, J., & Degner, L.F. (2008). Canada and India: An innovative partnership to advance oncology nursing research. Oncology Nursing Forum, 35(4), 583-587.

Yu Ko, W. & Degner, L. F. (2008). Uncertainty after treatment for prostate cancer: Definition, assessment and management. Clinical Journal of Oncology Nursing, 12(5), 749-755.

Duggleby, W., Degner, L., Williams, A., Wright,K., Cooper, D., Popkin, D. & Holtslander, L. (2007). Living with hope: Initial evaluation of a psychosocial hope intervention for older palliative home care patients. Journal of Pain and Symptom Management, 33(3), 247-257.

Duggleby, W., Wright, K., Williams, A., Degner, L. F., Cammer, A. & Holtslander, L. (2007). Developing a living with hope program for caregivers of family members with advanced cancer. Journal of Palliative Care, 23(1), 24-31.

Hack, T. F., Pickles, T., Bultz, B. D., Ruether, J. D., & Degner, L. F. (2007). Impact of providing audiotapes of primary treatment consultations to men with prostate cancer: A multi-site, randomized, controlled trial. Psycho-Oncology, 16, 543-552.

Pickles, T., Ruether, J. D., Weir, L., Carlson, L., Jakulj, F., Hack, T.F., Butler, L. & Degner, L. F. (2007). Psychosocial barriers to active surveillance for the management of early prostate cancer and a strategy for increased acceptance. BJU International, 100, 544-551.

Tishelman, C., Petersson, L-M., Degner, L. F., Sprangers, M., (2007). Symptom prevalence, intensity and distress in patients with inoperable lung cancer in relation to time of death. Journal of Clinical Oncology, 25(34), 5381-5389.

Hack, T. F., Degner, L. F., Watson, P., & Sinha, L. (2006). Do patients benefit from participating in medical decision making? Longitudinal follow-up of women with breast cancer. Psycho-Oncology, 15, 9-19.

Lobchuk, M. M., Degner, L. F., Chateau, D., & Hewitt, D. (2006). Promoting enhanced patient and family caregiver congruence on lung cancer symptom experiences. Oncology Nursing Forum, 33(2), 273-282.

Martin, W. F., & Degner, L. F. (2006). Perception of risk and surveillance practices of women with a family history of breast cancer. Cancer Nursing, 29(3), 227-235.

Pyke-Grimm, K., Stewart, J. L., Kelly, K. P., & Degner, L. F. (2006). Parents of children with cancer: Factors influencing treatment decision making. Journal of Pediatric Nursing, 21(5), 350-361.

Thompson, G. N., Estabrooks, C. A., & Degner, L. F. (2006). Clarifying the concepts in knowledge transfer: A literature review. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 53(6), 691-701.

Brundage, M., Feldman-Stewart, D., Leis, A., Bezjak, A., Degner, L. F., Velki, K., Zetes-Zanatta, L., Tu, D., Ritvo, P. & Pater, J. (2005). Communicating quality of life information to cancer patients: A study of six presentation formats. Journal of Clinical Oncology, 23(28), 6949-6956.

Butler, L., Degner, L. F., Baile, W., & the SCRN Communication Team (Hack, T. F., Brundage, M. D., Bultz, B., Carlson, L., Davison, B. J., Feldman-Stewart, D., Parker, P., Tishelman, C., Thorne, S. & Landry. M.) (2005). Developing communication competency in the context of cancer: A critical interpretive analysis of provider training programs. Psycho-Oncology, 14, 861-872.

Carlson, L. E., Feldman-Stewart, D., Tishelman, C., Brundage, M. D., & the SCRN Communication Team (Hack, T. F., Degner, L. F., Baile, W., Bultz, B., Butler, L., Davison, B. J., Parker, P., & Thorne, S.) (2005). Patient-professional communication research in cancer: An integrative review of research methods in the context of a conceptual framework. Psycho-Oncology, 14, 812-828.

Feldman-Stewart, D., Brundage, M. D., Tishelman, C., & the SCRN Communication Team (Hack, T. F., Degner, L. F., Baile, W., Bultz, B., Butler, L., Carlson, L., Davison, B. J., Parker, P., & Thorne, S.) (2005). A conceptual framework for patient-professional communication: An application to the cancer context. Psycho-Oncology, 14, 801-809.

Hack, T. F., Degner, L. F., Parker, P. A., & the SCRN Communication Team (Baile, W., Brundage, M. D., Bultz, B., Butler, L., Carlson, L., Davison, B. J., Feldman-Stewart, D., Thorne, S., & Tishelman, C.) (2005). The communication goals and needs of cancer patients: A review. Psycho-Oncology, 14, 831-845.

Parker, P. A., Davison, B. J., Tishelman, C., Brundage, M. D., & the SCRN Communication Team (Hack, T. F., Degner, L. F., Baile, W., Bultz, B., Butler, L., Carlson, L., Feldman-Stewart, D., & Thorne, S.) (2005). What do we know about facilitating patient communication in the cancer care setting? Psycho-Oncology, 14, 848-858.

Thorne, S., Bultz, B. D., Baile, W., & the SCRN Communication Team (Hack, T. F., Degner, L. F., Brundage, M. D., Butler, L., Carlson, L., Davison, B. J., Feldman-Stewart, D., Parker, P., & Tishelman, C.) (2005). Is there a cost to poor communication in cancer care?: A critical review of the literature. Psycho-Oncology, 14, 875-884.

Tishelman, C., Degner, L. F., Rudman, A., Bertilsson, K., Bond, R., Broberger, E. & Levelahti, H. (2005). Symptoms in patients with lung cancer: Distinguishing distress from intensity. Cancer, 104(9), 2013-2021.

Wilkins, K., Woodgate, R. L., Degner, L., & Schroeder, M. (2005). Siblings of pediatric bone marrow transplant recipients: Their lived experience as they transition through the bone marrow transplant trajectory. Pediatric Blood and Cancer, 45,(4), 424.

Hack, T. F., & Degner, L. F. (2004). Coping responses following breast cancer diagnosis predict psychological adjustment three years later. Psycho–Oncology, 13, 235-247.

McClement, S., Degner, L. F., & Harlos, M. (2004). Family responses to declining weight loss in a terminally ill relative: Part I: Fighting back. Journal of Palliative Care, 20(2), 93-100.

Woodgate, R. L., & Degner, L. F. (2004). Cancer-symptom transition periods of children with cancer and their families: So many bumpy roads ahead. Journal of Advanced Nursing 46(4), 358-368.

Brundage, M., Leis, A., Bezjak, A., Feldman-Stewart, D., Degner, L. F., Velji, K., Zetes-Zanatta, L., Tu, D., Ritvo, P., & Pater, J. (2003). Cancer patients’ preferences for communicating clinical trial quality of life information: A qualitative study. Quality of Life Research, 12(4), 395-404.

Davison, B. J., Gleave, M. E., Goldenberg, L. G., & Degner, L. F. (2003). Provision of individualized information to men and their partners to facilitate treatment decision making in prostate cancer. Oncology Nursing Forum, 30(1), 107-114.

Degner, L. F., Hack,T. F., O’Neil, J., & Kristjanson, L. J. (2003). A new approach to eliciting meaning in the context of breast cancer. Cancer Nursing, 26(3), 169-178.

Hack, T. F., Pickles, T., Bultz, B. D., Ruether, J. D., Weir, L. M., Degner, L. F., & Mackey, J. R. (2003). Impact of providing audiotapes of primary adjuvant treatment consultations to women with breast cancer: A multi-site randomized controlled trial. Journal of Clinical Oncology. 21(22), 4138-4144.

McClement, S., Degner, L. F. & Harlos, M. S. (2003). Family beliefs regarding the nutritional care of a terminally ill relative: A qualitative study. Journal of Palliative Medicine, 6(5), 737-748.

Wallberg, B., Michelson, H., Nystedt, M., Degner, L. F., & Bolund, C. (2003). The meaning of breast cancer. Acta Oncologica, 42(1), 30-35.

Woodgate, R. L., & Degner, L. F. (2003). A substantive theory of keeping the spirit alive: The spirit within children with cancer and their families. Journal of Pediatric Oncology Nursing, 20(3), 103-119.

Woodgate, R. L. & Degner, L. F. (2003). Expectations and beliefs about children’s cancer symptoms: Perspectives of children with cancer and their families. Oncology Nursing Forum, 30(3), 479-491.

Woodgate, R. L., Degner, L. F., & Yanofsky, R. (2003). A different perpective to approaching cancer-symptoms in children. Journal of Pain and Symptom Management, 26(3), 800-817.

Davison, B. J., & Degner, L. F. (2002). Feasibility of using computer-assisted interventions to enhance the way women with breast cancer communicate with their physicians: Results of a randomized controlled trial. Cancer Nursing, 25(6), 417-424.

Davison, B. J., Gleave, M. E., Goldenberg, L. G., & Degner, L. F. (2002). Assessing information and decision preferences of men with prostate cancer and their partners. Cancer Nursing, 25(1), 42-49.

Lobchuk, M. M. & Degner, L. F. (2002). Patients with cancer and next-of-kin response comparability on physical and psychological symptom well-being: Trends and measurement issues. Cancer Nursing, 25(5), 358-374.

Lobchuk, M. M. & Degner, L. F. (2002). Symptom experiences: Perceptual accuracy between advanced stage cancer patients and family caregives in the home care setting. Journal of Clinical Oncology, 20(16), 3495-3507.

Woodgate, R. L. & Degner, L. F. (2002). “Nothing is carved in stone!” Uncertainty in children with cancer and their families. European Journal of Oncology Nursing, 6(1), 191-202.

Tishelman, C., Degner, L. F., & Mueller, B. H. (2000). Measuring symptom distress in lung cancer patients: A pilot study of experienced intensity and importance of symptoms. Cancer Nursing, 23(2), 82-90.

Wallberg, B., Michelson, H., Nystedt, M., Bolund, C., Degner, L. F., & Wilking, J. (2000). Information needs and preferences for participation in treatment decisions among Swedish breast cancer patients. Acta Oncologica, 39(4), 467-476.

Davison, B. J., Kirk, P., Degner, L. F., & Hassard, T. H. (1999). Information and patient participation in screening for prostate cancer. Patient Education and Counselling, 37, 255-263.

Hack, T. F., & Degner, L. F. (1999). Coping with breast cancer: A cluster-analytic approach. Breast Cancer Research and Treatment, 54, 185-194.

Hack, T. F., Pickles, T., Bultz, B. D., Degner, L. F., Katz, A., & Davison, B. J. (1999). Feasibility of an audiotape intervention for patients with cancer: A multi-center randomized controlled pilot study. Journal of Psychosocial Oncology, 17(2), 1-15.

Pyke-Grimm, K. A., Degner, L. F., Small, A., & Mueller, B. (1999). Preferences for participation in treatment decision making and information needs of parents of children with cancer: A pilot study. Journal of Pediatric Oncology Nursing, 16(1), 13-24.

Whitely, M., Kristjanson, L. J., Degner, L. F., Yanofsky, R., & Mueller, B. (1999). Measuring the care needs of mothers of children with cancer: Development of the Fin-Ped. Canadian Journal of Nursing Research, 31(2), 103-123.

Davison, B. J., & Degner, L. F. (1998). Promoting patient decision making in life and death situations. Seminars in Oncology Nursing, 14(2), 129-136.

Deane, K., & Degner, L. F. (1998). Information needs, uncertainty, and anxiety in women who have had a breast biopsy with benign outcome. Cancer Nursing, 21(2), 117-126.

Degner, L. F. (1998). Preferences to participate in treatment decision making: The adult model. Journal of Pediatric Oncology Nursing, 15(3, Suppl 1), 3-9.

Degner, L. F., Davison, B. J., Sloan, J. A., & Mueller, B. (1998). Development of a scale to measure information needs in cancer patients. Journal of Nursing Measurement, 6(2), 137-153.

Western Consortium for Cancer Nursing Research [L. Degner, Co-Investigator]. (1998). Assessing stomatitis: Refinement of the Western Consortium for Cancer Nursing Research (WCCNR) stomatitis staging system. Canadian Oncology Nursing Journal, 8(3), 160-162.

Davison, B. J., & Degner, L. F. (1997). Empowerment of men newly diagnosed with prostate cancer. Cancer Nursing, 20(3), 187-196.

Deane, K., & Degner, L. F. (1997). Determining the information needs of women after breast biopsy procedures. American Operating Room Nursing Journal, 65(4), 767-776.

Degner, L. F., Kristjanson, L., Bowman, D., Sloan, J., O’Neil, J., Carriere, K. C., Bilodeau, B.,Watson, P., & Mueller, B. (1997). Information needs and decisional preferences in women with breast cancer. Journal of the American Medical Association, 277(18), 1485-1492.

Degner, L. F., Sloan, J. A. & Venkatesh, P. (1997). The control preferences scale. Canadian Journal of Nursing Research, 29(3), 21-43.

Lobchuk, M. M., Kristjanson, L., Degner, L. F., Blood, P., & Sloan, J. A. (1997). Perceptions of symptom distress in lung cancer patients: I. Congruence between patients and primary family caregivers. Journal of Pain and Symptom Management, 14(3), 136-146.

Beaver, K., Luker, K. A., Owens, R.G., Leinster, S.J., Degner, L. F., & Sloan, J. A. (1996). Treatment decision making in women newly diagnosed with breast cancer. Cancer Nursing, 19(1), 8-19.

Bilodeau, B. A., & Degner, L. F. (1996). Information needs, sources of information, and decisional roles in women with breast cancer. Oncology Nursing Forum, 23(4), 691-696.

Chalmers, K., Thompson, K., & Degner, L. F. (1996). Information, support, and communication needs of women with a family history of breast cancer. Cancer Nursing, 19(3), 204-213.

Davison, B. J., Degner, L. F., & Morgan, T. B. (1995). Information needs and decision-making preferences of men with prostate cancer. Oncology Nursing Forum, 22(9), 1401-1408.

Degner, L. F., & Sloan, J. A. (1995). Symptom distress in newly diagnosed ambulatory cancer patients and as a predictor of survival in lung cancer. Journal of Pain and Symptom Management, 10(6), 423-431.

Kristjanson, L. J., Atwood, J. R., & Degner, L. F. (1995). Validity and reliability of the FIN: Measuring care needs of families of patients with advanced cancer. Journal of Nursing Measurement, 3(2), 109-126.

Luker, K. A., Beaver, K., Leinster, S. J., Owens, R. G., Degner, L. F., & Sloan, J. A. (1995). The information needs of women newly diagnosed with breast cancer. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 22, 134-141.

McClement, S., & Degner, L. F. (1995). Expert nursing behaviors in care of the dying adult in the intensive care unit. Heart and Lung, 24(5), 408-419.

Hack, T. F., Degner, L. F., & Dyck, D. (1994). Relationship between preferences for decisional control and illness information among women with breast cancer: A quantitative and qualitative analysis. Social Science in Medicine, 39(2), 279-289.

Neufeld, K., Degner, L. F., & Dick, J. (1993). A nursing intervention to foster patient involvement in treatment decisions. Oncology Nursing Forum, 20(4), 631-635.

Cowan, D., Danoff, D., Davis, A., Degner, L., Jerry, M., Kurtz, S., Laidlaw, J., Maclean, A., Till, J., Thomsen, P. (1992). Consensus statement from the workshop on the teaching and assessment of communication-skills in Canadian medical-schools. Canadian Medical Association Journal, 147(8), 1149-1150.

Degner, L. F., & Sloan, J. A. (1992). Decision making during serious illness: What role do patients really want to play? Journal of Clinical Epidemiology, 45(9), 941-950.

Degner, L. F., Gow, C. M., & Thompson, L. (1991). Critical nursing behaviours in care for the dying. Cancer Nursing, 14(5), 246-253.

Western Consortium for Cancer Nursing Research [L.F. Degner, Co-Investigator]. (1991). Development of a staging system for chemotherapy-induced stomatitis. Cancer Nursing, 14(1), 6-12.

Degner, L. F., & Gow, C. M. (1988). Preparing nurses for care of the dying: A longitudinal study. Cancer Nursing, 11(3), 160-169.

Degner, L. F., & Russell, C. A. (1988). Preferences for treatment control among adults with cancer. Research in Nursing and Health, 11, 367-374.

Degner, L. F., Henteleff, P. D., & Ringer, C. (1987). The relationship between theory and measurement in evaluations of palliative care services. Journal of Palliative Care, 3(2), 8-13.

Western Consortium for Cancer Nursing Research [L.F. Degner, Principal Investigator]. (1987). Priorities for cancer nursing research: A Canadian replication. Cancer Nursing, 10(6), 319-326.

Degner, L. F. (1974). The relationship between some beliefs held by physicians and their life-prolonging decisions. Omega, 5, 223-232.

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2008, Canadian Nurses Association Centennial Award, Canadian Nurses Association (CNA)

2007, Diamond Jubilee Award, National Cancer Institute of Canada (NCIC)

2007, University of Texas M.D. Anderson Palliative / Hospice Lifetime Nursing Achievement Award, United States

2007, Award of Excellence, Canadian Association of Psychosocial Oncology (CAPO)

2007, YMCA/YWCA Women of Distinction Award, Research and Innovation category

2006, Distinguished Merit Award, International Society of Nurses in Cancer Care (I.S.N.C.C.), England

2006, Fellow of the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences (C.A.H.S.)

2006, Distinguished Researcher Award, Oncology Nursing Society, United States

2005, The Dr. John M. Bowman Winnipeg Rh Institute Foundation Medal for Excellence in Research

2003, Cancer Nursing Research Article of the Year Award for: Degner, L. F., Hack,T. F., O’Neil, J., & Kristjanson, L. J. (2003). A new approach to eliciting meaning in the context of breast cancer. Cancer Nursing, 26(3), 169-178.

2003, Canadian Association of Nurses in Oncology (CANO) Award of Excellence for Research

April-May 1993, Visiting Professorship, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden (Funded by the Swedish Cancer Society.)

October-November 1992, Visiting Professorship, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden (Funded by the Swedish Cancer Society.)

1986, Graduate Teaching Award, University of Manitoba

1986, Professional Achievement Award, Manitoba Association of Registered Nurses

1986, Oncology Nursing Society/National Cancer Institute Postdoctoral Research Award, Los Angeles, California

April-May 1984, Rockefeller Foundation Scholar-in-Residence Award, Bellagio, Italy

1981-1982, National Health Fellowship, National Health Research and Development Program, Health and Welfare, Canada

1980-1981, Canadian Nurses’ Foundation Fellowships

1971-1972, Canadian Nurses’ Foundation Fellowships

1970-1971, Canadian Nurses’ Foundation Fellowships

1965, Governor General’s Medal, Sisler High School, Winnipeg

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Career Funding

National Research Chair (Cancer Nursing), Development of evidence-based nursing practice in cancer care, palliative care and cancer prevention. Canadian Institutes of Health Research. One-time Knowledge Translation Supplement awarded by CIHR’s Institute of Health Services and Policy Research (IHSPR) – CP1-0529-07. April 1, 2008 to March 31, 2010. $60,000

National Research Chair (Cancer Nursing), Development of evidence-based nursing practice in cancer care, palliative care and cancer prevention. Canadian Health Services Research Foundation/ Canadian Institutes of Health Research. [One of three national research chairs in nursing care (one of twelve in nursing and health services research) awarded in a one-time competition held in 1999 – 2000.] Matching funding provided by the University of Manitoba and the Faculty of Nursing – CP1-0529-07. July 1, 2000 to June 30, 2010. $1,800,000

Investigator Award, National Health Research and Development Program/Medical Research Council Joint Development Program for Nursing Research. 1992-1996. $220,000

Operating Grants

Hack, T., Degner, L., Ruether, D., Weir, L., Latosinsky, S., Grenier,G. Addressing “evidence” and “context” to facilitate the transferand uptake of consultation recording use in oncology: A knowledge translation implementation study. Canadian Institutes of Health Research – Knowledge Synthesis and Exchange – MOP 89840. October 1, 2008 to September 30, 2011. – $288,380

Hack, T., Degner, L., Ruether, D., Weir, L., Latosinsky, S., Grenier,G. Addressing “evidence” and “context” to facilitate the transferand uptake of consultation recording use in oncology: A knowledge translation implementation study. Canadian Institutes of Health Research – Knowledge Synthesis and Exchange – MOP 89840 Supplement. October 1, 2008 to March 31, 2009. – $23,358

Hack, T., Degner, L., Ruether, D., Weir, L., Latosinsky, S., Grenier, D. Addressing “evidence” and “context” to facilitate the adoption and diffusion of consultation recording use in oncology: A knowledge translation implementation study. Canadian Institutes of Health Research – Knowledge and Synthesis and Exchange – KTE 87024. March 2008 to February 2009. – $100,000

Estabrooks, C. (PI), Cummings, G., Degner, L. F., Dopson, S., Laschinger, H., McGilton, K. S., Morgan, D. G., Norton, P. G., Profetto-McGrath, J., Rycroft-Malone, J., Sales, A. E., Smith, M. C., Stewart, N. J., Teare, G. F., Translating Research in Elder Care. Canadian Institutes of Health Research – MOP-53107. April 2007 to March 2012. – $4,730,410

Woodgate, R. (PI), Irani, P., Watters, C., Yanofsky, R., Degner, L. & West, C. Development and testing of a computer video-game approach designed for self-assessment and management of meaning-centered symptom experiences by children with cancer. Canadian Institutes of Health Research – CIHR Operating Grant (2006-2010 – $132,888 per year) $664,440

Degner, L. F., Laschinger, H., & Estabrooks, C. A., Evaluation of an organizational intervention to improve nursing work life through training in knowledge translation: Phase I. Canadian Institutes of Health Research. KTS-73434. 2005-2008. – $300,000

Hack, T.F., Pickles, T., Bultz, B., Ruether, D., Degner, L. Identifying determinants of patient-physician communication outcome from audiotapes of primary treatment consultations in prostate oncology. National Cancer Institute of Canada (CPCRI/NCIC). 2005-2008. – $62,925

Hack, T.F., Pickles, T., Butler, L., Weir, L., Carlson, L., Ruether, D., Degner, L. F. A survey of oncology professionals’ perceived priorities and barriers with respect to the communication needs of cancer patients. National Cancer Institute of Canada. 2006-2007. – $6,290

Broemeling, A. M. (Co-PI), Broughton, S. (Co-PI), Sawchenko, L., Reid, C., Degner, L., Newman, R. Coordination and continuity of care for cancer patients: Assessing the impact of referrals for patients in rural and remote areas. Canadian Health Services Research Foundation. 2004-2007. – $142,000

Davison, B. J., Degner, L. F. Evaluating a decision support intervention for men with prostate cancer. Health Canada. 2001-2006. – $250,000

Fitch, M. I., Baker, P., Cummings, G., Degner, L. F., Estabrooks, C., Green, E., McLennan, M., McLeod, D., Mueller, M., & Saucier, A. Canada’s experience translating workplace knowledge in cancer settings. Health Canada, RFO-015-017. 2004-2006. – $300,000

Duggleby, W. D., Williams, A. M., Wright, K. E., Degner, L. F. A pilot study of the hope focused program for informal caregivers of palliative home care patients. Canadian Institutes of Health Research. 2004-2005. – $65,490

Brundage, M. C., Degner, L. F., Pater, J. L., Feldman-Stewart, D., Tu, D., Leis, A. M., Velji, K., Bezjak, A., & Ritvo, P. The value of quality of life information to cancer patients. Canadian Cancer Society Research Grant, National Cancer Institute of Canada. 2003-2005. – $214,931

Duggleby, W., Wright, K., Williams, A., & Degner, L. F. Development, implementation, and initial evaluation of psychosocial supportive hope focused program for palliative care patients with advanced cancer. Saskatchewan Health Research Foundation. 2003-2005. – $76,787

Tishelman, C., Degner, L. F., & Gustavsson, J. P. Symptom experiences in patients with lung cancer: A Swedish-Canadian Collaborative Nursing Project. Seed finding: Foundation for Clinical Cancer Research in Jönköping and the Scientific Advisory Board of Jönköping County. (1995-1996, 67,000kr.). Swedish Cancer Society (1998, 589,375kr) (1999, 589,375kr), (2000, 250,000kr), (2001-2002, 800,000kr), (2003, 350,000kr), (2004, 350,000kr); Vårdalstiftelesen (1998, 200,000kr), (1999, 500,000kr), (2000, 500,000kr), (2001, 300,000kr); Karolinska Institute, (17,000kr); Swedish Heart-Lung Foundation (2000–2001, 300,000kr), (2002 – 2003, 500,000kr); Swedish National Research Institute, (2002-2004, 900,000kr), Swedish School for Health and Caring Sciences, (2002-2005, 1,500,000kr). Total funding to date approximately 7,362,750kr, or approximately $1,387,700CAD. – 1995-2005

Watt-Watson, J. H., Degner, L. F., Velji, K., Stevens, B., & Milosevic, M. Effectiveness of an individualized symptom education program on the symptom distress of women receiving radiation for gynecological cancer. Canadian Cancer Society/National Cancer Institute of Canada. 2003-2005. – $228,980

Woodgate, R., Degner, L. F., & Irani, U. Development and validation of a computer video-game for self-assessment of meaning centred symptom experiences by children with cancer. Canadian Institutes of Health Research/Regional Partnership Program Operating Grant. 2003-2005. – $134,250

Hack, T. F., Bultz, B. D., & Degner, L. F. Providing audiotapes of primary oncology treatment consultations to men with prostate cancer. A tri-province randomized controlled trial. Canadian Institutes of Health Research, St. Boniface Hospital Foundation, and Faculty of Nursing, University of Manitoba, Funding Reference Number: ROP-42881. 2002-2004. – $182,125

Hack, T. F., Pickles, T., Bultz, B., Degner, L. F., Reuther, D., Weir, L., & Mackey, J. Identifying determinants of patient satisfaction and treatment compliance from audiotapes of primary treatment consultations in oncology. National Cancer Institute of Canada/Canadian Breast Cancer Research Initiative. 2002-2004. – $80,705

Lobchuk, M. M., Degner, L. F., & Vorauer, J. U. Induced perspective taking: Assisting family care-givers to achieve enhanced perceptual accuracy on lung cancer patient symptom experiences. Canadian Lung Association. 2003-2004. – $30,000

Latosinsky, S., Degner, L. F., Harrison, M., Stimpson, R., & Turner, D. Survey of a random sample of colorectal cancer screening candidates in the community to determine the acceptability of faecal-occult blood testing (FOBT) following application of an information instrument. Manitoba Medical Services Foundation. 2002-2003. – $35,000

Degner, L. F., & Tishelman, C. Symptom distress in lung cancer. Canadian Nurses’ Respiratory Society. 2000-2002. – $30,000

Brundage, M. D., Feldman-Stewart, D., Bezjak, A., Degner, L. F., Leis, A., Pater, J. Ritvo, P., Velji, K., & Whelan, T. The presentation of quality of life information to cancer patients considering a treatment choice. National Cancer Institute of Canada, Canadian Cancer Society Research Grant. 2000-2002. – $183,000

Taylor, M., Degner, L. F., & Wong, R. A cross utility analysis of liver resection for malignant tumors. Manitoba Medical Services Foundation (2000–2001) CancerCare Manitoba Foundation (2001-2002) – $36,000

Hack, T. F., Pickles, R., Bultz, B., Degner, L. F., & Reuther, D. Providing audiotapes of primary oncology treatment consultations to women with breast cancer: A tri-province randomized controlled trial. Canadian Breast Cancer Research Initiative. 1999-2001. – $195,000

Degner, L. F., & Tishelman, C. Measurement of symptom distress in lung cancer. National Cancer Institute of Canada. 1998-1999. – $30,000

Degner, L. F., Carriere, K. C., Goodwin, C., & Davison, B. J. Clinical trial of a computer-assisted intervention for women with breast cancer. Canadian Breast Cancer Research Initiative. 1996-2000. – $300,000

Degner, L. F., Hack, T. F., Tataryn, D., & Watson, P. Longitudinal follow-up of a newly diagnosed cohort of women with breast cancer: Psychosocial and biological correlates. Canadian Breast Cancer Research Initiative. 1995-1998. – $211,000

Kristjanson, L., Degner, L. F., Dudgeon, D. Longitudinal study of lung cancer patients. National Cancer Institute of Canada. 1995-1998. – $290,000

Leinster, S., Degner, L. F., & Luker, K., Owens, G. A longitudinal follow-up of information needs of women with breast cancer two years after diagnosis. Cancer Relief Fund, London. 1993-1994. – $90,000

Degner, L. F., Bowman, D., Kristjanson, L., O’Neil, J., & Sloan, J. Profiles of information needs in women with breast cancer: Cross-cultural comparisons. National Cancer Institute of Canada. 1992-1995. – $180,000

Leinster, S., Degner, L. F., & Luker, K., Owens, G. Preferences about participation in treatment decisions and preferences for information in British women with early stage breast cancer. Cancer Relief Fund, London, England. 1991-1993. – $80,000

Degner, L. F., & Sloan, J. Patient preference about roles in treatment decision making. National Cancer Institute of Canada. 1989-1990. – $10,750

Degner, L. F. & McCorkle, R. Preferences about roles in treatment decision making: An American replication. Research Grants Committee, University of Manitoba. 1988. – $12,000

Degner, L. F. Measurement of preferences for control over treatment decisions among adults with cancer. National Cancer Institute of Canada. 1987-89. – $70,000

Degner, L. F., & Gow, C. M. Preparing nurses for care of the dying. Manitoba Medical Service Foundation. 1986. – $15,660

Degner, L. F. The analysis of quasi-experimental data in nursing: A critical review. Canadian Nurses Foundation. 1986. – $2,500

Degner, L. F., Davies, E. M. B., Dyck, S., &Warren, B. Development of a western consortium for cancer nursing research: Phase I. Canadian Nurses Foundation (1985, $2,500,) Adria Labs (1986, $1,000), Manitoba Association of Registered Nurses, (1986, $1,500), Alberta Foundation for Nursing Research (1987, $2,500). 1985-1987. – $7,500

Degner, L. F., & Henteleff, P. Evaluation of the effectiveness of palliative consultation team: A pilot study. Manitoba Health Research Council, 1983-1984. – $14,500

Degner, L. F. Development of control preferences scale for cancer patients. Research Board, University of Manitoba (1984, $2,000), Manitoba Association of Registered Nurses (1985, $2,000). 1984-1985. – $4,000

Degner, L. F., & Gow, C.M. A longitudinal investigation of the impact of an educational program on the anxieties and attitudes of nursing students to care of the dying patient. Winnipeg Foundation. 1980-1986. – $50,677

Degner, L. F., & Gow, C.M. Investigation of the impact of an educational program on the anxieties and attitudes of nursing students to care of the dying patient: A pilot study. Manitoba Association of Registered Nurses. 1978-1980. – $1,600

Infrastructure Grants

Hack, T.F. (PI), Degner, L.F. (Co-PI), Pickles, T., Ruether, D., Butler, L., Weir, L., Carlson, L. Patient-Health Professional Communication in the Context of Cancer. Sociobehavioral Cancer Research Network-NCIC; July 1, 2008 to June 30, 2009. – $40,000

Hack, T.F. (PI), Degner, L.F. (Co-PI), Pickles, T., Ruether, D., Butler, L., Weir, L., Carlson, L. Patient-Health Professional Communication in the Context of Cancer. Sociobehavioral Cancer Research Network-NCIC; July 1, 2007 to June 30, 2008. – $80,000

Hack, T.F. (PI), Degner, L.F.(Co-PI), Pickles, T., Ruether, D., Butler, L., Weir, L., Carlson, L. Patient-Health Professional Communication in the Context of Cancer. Sociobehavioral Cancer Research Network-NCIC; July 1, 2006 to June 30, 2007.-$123,450

Butler, L., Hack, T., Abidi, R., Watters, C., & Degner, L. Neighbourhood: A Single Point of Access to Integrated Information and Psychosocial Support for Men with Prostate Cancer. Canadian Institutes of Health Research. Development Funds following successful Letter of Intent for Special Competition, July 1, 2006 – November 1, 2006. Total: $8,000

Hack, T. F., Degner, L. F., Baile, W., Brundage, M. D., Bultz, B., Butler, L., Carlson, L. D. Cohen, L., Davison, J., Feldman-Stewart, D., Parker, P., Tishelman, C., Thorne, S., & Whelan, T. Patient-health professional communication in the context of cancer. National Cancer Insitute of Canada, Sociobehavioural Cancer Research Network (2003-2005, $176,000; 2005-2006, $117,800). 2003-2006. Grand Total: $293,800

Harvey, D., & Degner, L. F., To establish a Manitoba research satellite center of the sociobehavioural cancer research network. National Cancer Institute of Canada. – 2003-2004. Total: $22,400

Degner, L. F., (Co-PI), Hack, T. F., (Co-PI), Brundage, M., Bultz, B., Carlson, L., Chalmers, K., Cohen, L., Davison, B. J., Feldman-Stewart, D., Tishelman, C., & Whelan, T. Patient-health professional communication in the context of cancer. National Cancer Institute of Canada ($60,000). – 2000-2002.Total: $180,000

Degner, L. F., (Co-Director), & Chochinov, H., (Co-Director). Manitoba research satellite center of the sociobehavioural cancer research network. National Cancer Institute of Canada ($15,000 per annum). – 2000-2002. Total: $45,000

Degner, L. F., (Co-Director), & Chochinov, H., (Co-Director). To establish a Manitoba research satellite center of the sociobehavioural cancer research network. National Cancer Institute of Canada ($30,000per annum). – 1995-1999. Total: $150,000

Degner, L. F. (Senior Investigator). Cancer Nursing Research Group. St. Boniface Hospital Research Foundation (2000 square feet of office/laboratory space plus furnishing). Ongoing funding. 1988-Present

Degner, L.F.,& Jope, A. Development of an undergraduate computer laboratory in conjunction with the Manitoba Nursing Research Institute. Helene Fuld Health Trust, New York. 1988. Total: $40,000 U.S.

Training Programs

Loiselle, C. G., Degner, L. F., Butler, L., Bottoroff, J., Rosberger, Z., Dube, L., Hack, T. F., Shoveller, J. A., Davison, B. J. & Hislop, T.G. Comprehensive Research Training Program in Psychosocial Oncology. Canadian Institutes of Health Research – ST1 – 63285. April 1, 2003 to March 31, 2009. $1,800,000

Estabrooks, C., Golden-Biddle, K., Dallaire, C., Degner, L.F., Dickinson, H., Horsburgh, B., Landry, R., & Smith, M., National training centre for knowledge transfer, Canadian Institutes of Health Research, Canadian Health Services Research Foundation, and the Alberta Heritage Foundation for Medical Research (2001-2006 – $500,000 per annum) $2,500,000.

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