Lisa M. Hess, PhD
Assistant Professor
Behavioral Science

Dr. Lisa Hess is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Public Health and the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology and is a member of the Simon Cancer Center. She joined the IU School of Medicine in 2008 following a 17-year career in the Cancer Prevention and Control Program and Division of Women’s Cancers at the University of Arizona, where she most recently served as the Science Officer for the Arizona Cancer Center.  

Dr. Hess is a member of Psi Chi, the American Psychosocial Oncology Society, the Society for Medical Decision Making, the American Association for Cancer Research, the International Gynecologic Cancer Society, and the American Public Health Association.  She has Masters degrees in Latin American Studies and Pharmaceutical Sciences and received her Doctorate in Pharmaceutical Economics, Policy and Outcomes.

Her primary area of research is focused on the humanistic and clinical health outcomes of cancer prevention, treatment and survivorship. Her research program encompasses theoretically-based randomized controlled trials, longitudinal observational studies, retrospective database analyses, meta-analyses, and preference research, which is grounded in behavioral and economic theory.

Her work includes more than 18 peer-reviewed publications, 8 book chapters and many invited articles.

In 2008, she published the second edition of a collaborative text entitled “Fundamentals of Cancer Prevention,” with Dr. David Alberts. The book delivers “leading-edge information for primary physicians and health care providers in an effort to continually stress the importance of cancer prevention and the latest early-detection strategies” (publication release), and provides a detailed review on the current status of cancer prevention, including epidemiology, screening and chemoprevention strategies. It is available online at www.amazon.com and www.springer.com. This body of published work reflects nearly two decades of NIH-funded work in clinical trials, chemoprevention, patient medication adherence, provider and patient health care decision making, lifestyle choices, and quality of life across the continuum of cancer prevention throughout the survivorship period.

Active research projects:

A Phase IIb Randomized Study of the Effect of Zoledronic Acid Versus Observation on Bone Mineral Density of The Lumbar Spine in Women Who Elect to Undergo Surgery That Involves Removal of Both Ovaries  (GOG Protocol 215):
This randomized clinical trial (n=222) is designed to compare the effect of zoledronic acid administered every 6 months on bone loss associated with surgery (at a minimum, any surgical procedure that results in removal of both ovaries), as compared with observation alone.  This is to be evaluated by measuring the change from baseline to 9 and 18 months in bone mineral density (BMD) of the lumbar spine, specifically L1-L4 dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA). This study is currently accruing patients. http://ovariancancer.gog199.cancer.gov/gog215/

A Prospective Study of Cognitive Function during Chemotherapy for Front-Line Treatment in Ovarian, Primary Peritoneal or Fallopian Tube Cancer (GOG Protocol 236):
This study (n=200) is designed to obtain data that are to be used in the design of a future intervention trial to prevent or reduce chemotherapy-related cognitive changes. To design such a study, preliminary information is needed on the incidence, severity and duration of these effects. This study is designed to obtain these key data, as well as to explore possible mechanisms that may be proposed as hypotheses in a future trial. This study has been funded by a donor from the Harrington Cancer Center and is open to enrollment in 2010.

Navigating the Maze of Cancer Care:
This is a mixed methods cancer control project (n=100) supported by a larger grant funded by the American Cancer Society. This study seeks to explore the process by which a patient suspected of having ovarian cancer receives an accurate diagnosis based on Anderson’s Model of Total Patient Delay. This study completed accrual in February 2010 and the study data are being analyzed.

Patient-reported outcomes of care in Eldoret, Kenya
This study is a collaborative endeavor with Moi University and is designed to validate and subsequently implement a quality of life assessment in the oncology clinics in Eldoret, Kenya. This researchis designed to obtain knowledge about the quality of life of cancer patients in Eldoret to guide future strategies to improve comprehensive cancer patient care in Kenya. This study has been funded by the IU International Development Fund.

Decision making among treatment alternatives for abnormal uterine bleeding:
This study (n=300) is designed to improve patient-centered models of care, whereby individuals seeking care are now responsible to be active participants of that care, and to receive treatments and services that reflect their own preferences, desires and needs. This model of care incorporates physician counsel and shared decision making rather than exclusively relying on treatment mandates. This research study is designed to test the use of a computerized preference elicitation tool to improve the decision making process in the setting of treatment of abnormal uterine bleeding (AUB). This study is currently enrolling participants.

Evaluation of Maintenance Therapy as a Treatment Option for Women with Advanced Ovarian Cancer:
Ovarian cancer has the highest mortality rate of all cancers of the reproductive system, and is the fourth leading cause of cancer-related death among women.  Despite the burden of this disease, relatively little work has been done to examine the role of patient preferences in selecting chemotherapeutic treatment options. Currently, women who successfully complete chemotherapy may be offered maintenance therapy (a reduced dose form of chemotherapy designed to prevent or delay cancer recurrence) or observation alone (to periodically assess if recurrence is taking place). This study will evaluate the clinical trials conducted to date using statistical methodologies to better understand the overall value of maintenance therapy as compared to observation alone. This project is funded by the Indiana Clinical and Translational Sciences Institute.

Contact Information:
Lisa M. Hess, PhD
Assistant Professor
Behavioral Science
EF 210
(317) 274-3148
lmhess@iupui.edu