South Western Sydney Clinical School

Overview: Dr Lambert obtained her PhD from McGill University in 2008. Her doctoral study was first in providing an in-depth examination of differential preferences for cancer information among individuals diagnosed with breast, prostate, or colorectal cancer. This study was funded by the Canadian Institutes for Health Research, Fonds de Recherche en Santé du Québec, Psychosocial Oncology Research Training Program, and Quebec Interuniversity Nursing Intervention Research Group. Findings from her PhD work contributed to the development of the Profile of Preferences for Cancer Information (PPCI) scale, the PPCI will capture preferences for cancer information in terms of type, amount, and sources of information sought. Dr Lambert’s program of work spans the cancer continuum from early diagnosis to survivorships and uses a range of methodologies from qualitative, grounded theory to item response theory. Current projects included a) a partners and caregivers, longitudinal, well-being study; b) development and testing of patient and partner resources (eg, Consumer toolkit for advanced cancer patients, Coping-Together); c) exploring patients’ preferences for distress screening; and d) Rasch analysis of a range of scales used in psycho-oncology.

Grant funding. Dr Lambert has been successful in attracting $1,113,654.00 in external funding from the Clinical Oncological Society of Australia, the Priority Research Centre in Health Behaviour, the University of Newcastle, the Psycho-Oncology Co-operative group, National Health and Medical Research Council (CIB-NHMRC), and the Cancer Institute of New South Wales. In addition, she has been successful in obtaining a NHMRC Early Career Fellowship (Total $290,032).

Publications. Dr Lambert has published 26 manuscripts and 23 abstracts, with more than three quarters as first or second author. She received the 2009 CANCER NURSING Research Award for one of the publications coming from her PhD work. Recent publications include:

Manuscripts:

Lambert, S. D., Pallant, J. F., Boyes, A. W.., King, M. T., Britton, B., & Girgis, A. (in press). Optimal factor structure of the HADS among cancer survivors: A Rasch analysis. Psychological Assessment.

Girgis, A., Lambert, S., Waller, A., Johnson, C., Currow, D.  (in press). Physical, psychosocial, relationship and economic burden of caring for people with cancer: A review. Journal of Oncology Practice.

Lambert, S. D., Girgis, A., Lecathelinais, C., Stacey, F. (2013). Walking a mile in their shoes: Prevalence and predictors of anxiety and depression in caregivers of cancer survivors. Supportive Care in Cancer, 21:75–85.

Lambert, S. D., Girgis, A., Turner, J., McElduff, P., Kayser, K. (2012). A pilot randomized controlled trial of the feasibility of a self-directed coping skills intervention for couples facing prostate cancer: Rationale and design. BMC Health and Quality of Life Outcomes, 10, 119 doi:10.1186/1477-7525-10-119.

Girgis, A., Lambert, S. D., McElduff, P., Bonevski, B., Lecathelinais, C., Boyes, A., Stacey, F. (2012). Some things change, some things stay the same: A longitudinal analysis of cancer caregivers’ unmet supportive care needs. Psycho-Oncology [Published online: 3 SEP 2012]. DOI: 10.1002/pon.3166.

Lambert, S. D., Harrison, J. D, Smith, E., Bonevski, B., Carey, M., Lawsin, C., Paul, C., Girgis, A. (2012). The unmet needs of partners and caregivers of adults diagnosed with cancer: A systematic review. BMJ Supportive and Palliative Care, 2(3), 224-230.

Lambert, S. D., Jones, B., Girgis, A., Lecathelinais, C. (2012). Distressed partners and caregivers do not recover easily: Adjustment trajectories among partners and caregivers of cancer survivors. Annals of Behavioural Medicine, 44(2), 225-235.

Regan, T., Lambert, S.D., Girgis, A., Kelly, B., Turner, J., & Kayser, K. (2012). Do Couple-based Interventions Make a Difference for Couples affected by Cancer? A Systematic Review. BMC Cancer, 12(1): 279. DOI: 10.1186/1471-2407-12-279

Zucca, A., Lambert, S.D., Boyes, A., Pallant, J. F. (2012). Rasch analysis of the Mini-Mental Adjustment to Cancer Scale (mini-MAC) among a Heterogeneous Sample of Long-Term Cancer Survivors: a Cross-Sectional Study. BMC Health and Quality of Life Outcomes, 10(1):55.

Carey, M., Lambert, S., Smits, R., Paul, C., Sanson-Fisher, R., & Clinton-McHarg, T. (2012). The unfulfilled promise: Reducing unmet supportive care needs of cancer patients. Supportive Care in Cancer, 20(2), 207-219.

Rennick, J.E., Johnston, C.C., Lambert, S.D., Rashotte, J.M., Schmitz, N., Earle, R.J., Stevens, B.J., Tewfik, T., Wood-Dauphinee, S. (2011). Measuring psychological outcomes following pediatric intensive care unit hospitalization: Psychometric analysis of the Children's Critical Illness Impact Scale. Pediatric Critical Care Medicine, 12(6). 635-642. DOI: 10.1097/PCC.0b013e3182191bfa.

Lambert, S., Pallant. J., Girgis, A. (2011). Rasch analysis of the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale among caregivers of cancer survivors: Implications for its use in psycho-oncology. Psycho-Oncology, 20(9), 919-925.  DOI: 10.1002/pon.1803 Featured on MDLinx http://www.mdlinx.com/nursing/news-article.cfm/3247331

Rennick, J.E., Lambert, S., Childerhose, J., Campbell-Yeo, M., Filion, F., & Johnston, C. C. (2011). Mothers' experiences of a ‘Touch and Talk’ nursing intervention to optimize pain management in the pediatric intensive care unit. Intensive and Critical Care Nursing, 27 (3), 151-157.

Girgis, A., Lambert, S., Lecathelinais, C. (2011). The Supportive Care Needs Survey for partners and caregivers of cancer survivors: Development and psychometric evaluation. Psycho-oncology, 20(4), 387-393.

Girgis, A & Lambert, S. (2009). Caregivers of cancer survivors: The state of the field. Cancer Forum, 33(3), 167-171.

Larue, C., Loiselle, C., Bonin, J.P., Cohen, R., Gélinas, C., Dubois, S., & Lambert, S. (2009). Les méthodes mixtes : Stratégies prometteuses pour l’évaluation des interventions infirmières. [Mixed methods : Promising strategies for evaluating nursing intervention]. Recherche en Soins infirmiers, 50, 50-62.

Lambert, S. D., Loiselle, C. G., & Macdonald, M.-E. (2009). An in-depth exploration of information-seeking behavior among individuals with cancer: Part 1 Understanding differential patterns of active information-seeking. Cancer Nursing, 32(1). 11-23.

Lambert, S. D., Loiselle, C. G., & Macdonald, M.-E. (2009). An in-depth exploration of information-seeking behavior among individuals with cancer: Part 2 Understanding patterns of information disinterest and avoidance. Cancer Nursing, 32(1), 26-36.

Lambert, S. D., &  Loiselle, C. G. (2008, April). Combining individual interviews and focus groups to enhance data richness. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 62(2), 228-237.

White, C. L., Korner-Bitensky, N., Rodrigue, N., Rosmus, C., Sourial, R., Lambert, S., & Wood-Dauphinee, S. (2008). Barriers and facilitators to caring for individuals with stroke in the community: The family's experience. Canadian Journal of Neuroscience Nursing, 29(2), 5-12.

Lambert, S. D., & Loiselle, C. G. (2007). Health information-seeking behavior. Qualitative Health Research, 17(8), 1006-1019.

 Abstracts:

Lambert, S. D., Candler, H., Girgis, A., Turner, J., Regan, T., & Kayser, K. (2012). Addressing common barriers to using self-directed, coping skills booklets for couples facing cancer. Asia-Pacific Journal of Clinical Oncology, 8(Suppl 3), s139.

Girgis A., Lambert, S. D., Johnson, C., & Currow, D. (2012). Applying an evidence-based approach to the development and evaluation of resources for families facing advanced cancer: Lessons learned from the ‘Consumer Toolkit’. Asia-Pacific Journal of Clinical Oncology, 8(Suppl 3), s232.

Regan, T., Lambert, S. D., & Kelly, B. (2012). Couples coping with cancer: A qualitative study of the views of health care providers. Asia-Pacific Journal of Clinical Oncology, 8(Suppl 3), s239.

Lawsin, C., McMillan, K., Butow, P., Turner, J., Yates, P., Lambert, S. D., White, K., Nelson, A., & Stephens, M. (2012). Role clarification: An examination of cancer nurses’ attitudes towards providing psychosocial support and training needs. Psycho-Oncology, 8(Suppl 3), s181. 

Lawsin, C., Butow, P., McMillan, K., Turner, J., Yates, P., White, K., Nelson, A., Stephens, M., & Lambert, S. D. (2012). A closer look at the current status of the guidelines for the psychosocial care of adults according to cancer nurses in Australia. Psycho-Oncology, 8(Suppl 3), s205

Kelly, B., Regan, T. W., Lambert, S.D. (2012). Coping with Cancer: Addressing the needs of older couples. Psycho-Oncology, 8(Suppl 3), s141.

Regan, T., Lambert, S., Kelly, B. (2012). Feasibility and uptake challenges of couple-based interventions: perspectives from the literature and interviews with couples. Supportive Care in Cancer, 20(Suppl 1), s148.

Lambert, S., Girgis, A., Jones, B., Lecathelinais. (2012). Patterns of psychological adjustment among partners and caregivers of cancer survivors. Supportive Care in Cancer, 20(Suppl 1), s194.

Regan, T., Lambert, S., Kelly, B. (2012). Couple-coping within a cancer context: theoretical perspectives and measurement. Supportive Care in Cancer, 20(Suppl 1), S209.

Lambert, S., Kelly, B., Girgis, A., Boyes, A., Cameron, A., Adams, C., Proietto, A. (2012). Self-reliance and perception of psycho-oncology service needs among distressed women with gynaecological cancer. Supportive Care in Cancer, 20(Suppl 1), S215.

Lambert, S., Girgis A., Turner, J., Kayser, K., Chambers, S., McComb, V., Lawsin, C., Britton, B., & Vallentine, P. (2011). Use of the Coping-Together workbook by couples facing cancer: Insights into preferences for and barriers to self-directed learning. Asia-Pacific Journal of Clinical Oncology, 7 (Supp.4): 134.

Lambert, S., Girgis A., Turner, J., Kayser, K., Chambers, S., McComb, V., Lawsin, C., Britton, B., & Vallentine, P. (2011). Preliminary findings of a qualitative evaluation of a coping skills intervention for couples facing cancer: Insights into preferences for self-directed learning. Psycho-Oncology, 20(suppl. 2), 22.

Lambert, S., Jones, B.L., Girgis, A., & Lecathelinais, C. (2011). Trajectories of anxiety and depression among caregivers of cancer survivors within the first two years post survivor diagnosis. Psycho-Oncology, 20(suppl. 2), 75.

Regan, T., Lambert, S., Girgis, A., Kelly., Turner, J., & Kayser, K. (2011). What is the evidence-base for couple-based interventions? A systematic review. Psycho-Oncology, 20(suppl. 2), 21.

Regan T, Lambert, S., Girgis, A. (2010). ‘When two halves are better than one: A systematic review of the efficacy of couple-based interventions vs. patient-only interventions’. Asia-Pacific Journal of Clinical Oncology, 6(S3).

Lambert S, Girgis A, Chambers S, Regan T. (2010). Is a self-directed coping skills intervention acceptable to couples affected by cancer? Insights from the pilot testing of the Coping-Together workbook. Asia-Pacific Journal of Clinical Oncology, 6(Supplement 3):241.

Girgis, A., Lambert, S., Stacey, F., & Lecathelinais, C. (2010). Predicting Borderline/Clinical Anxiety and Depression Among a Large, Population-Based Sample of Cancer Caregivers Six Months Post-Diagnosis. Psycho-Oncology, 19(Suppl. 2), S3

Lambert, S., Girgis, Chambers, S., Sundquist, K. (2010). Coping Together: Development and Pilot Testing of a Self-Directed Coping Skills Intervention for Patient-Primary Support Person Dyads. Psycho-Oncology, 19(Suppl. 2), S59.

Lambert, S. D. & Loiselle, C. G. (2009). Multi-Phase Development of the Profile of Preferences for Cancer Information Scale: Challenges and Promises. Asia-Pacific Journal of Clinical Oncology, 5(S2): A249

Loiselle, C. G. & Lambert S D. (2009). Theoretical and Evidence-Based Development of the Profile of Preferences for Cancer Information Scale. Psycho-Oncology 18(Suppl. 2):S74.

Lambert, S. D., Loiselle, C. G., & Macdonald, M.-E. (2008). An in-depth exploration of information-seeking behavior among individuals with cancer: Understanding differential patterns of active information-seeking. Psycho-Oncology, 17(suppl. 6), s165.

 Prizes and distinctions. Shortly after being awarded her PhD, Dr Lambert was successful in obtaining a Hunter Medical Research Institute (HMRI) Postdoctoral Fellowship (two consecutive years, 2009/2010) and shortly thereafter a NHMRC Early Career Fellowship (2011). Other prizes and distinctions include best presentation prize, Early Career Researcher, HMRI Research Seminar Day (2009), HMRI Pulse Education prize (2010, Early Career Researcher travel grant), CANCER NURSING Award (2009, best research paper)

 Development of resources for patients and their families. Dr Lambert’s program of work focuses on the translation and dissemination of research to patients and families to help them develop illness management skills. To this end, she has developed two multi-media resources: 1) 'Hope, Life, and Reality' for families facing advanced cancer (available on CareSearch website - http://www.caresearch.com.au/caresearch/tabid/1787/Default.aspx) and 2) 'Coping-Together' - the first, self-directed coping skills intervention for couples (CIB NHMRC grant).