Professor Sara Faithfull

Biography

Sara Faithfull trained as a cancer nurse in 1986 at the Royal Marsden Hospital (UK) and has worked in many oncology-related fields including neuro-oncology, radiotherapy and urology. She was the recipient of the Smith and Nephew Nursing fellowship in 1991 and a CR UK Nursing Research Fellowship in 1994.

She obtained her Ph.D. from the Institute of Cancer Research on Supportive care in radiotherapy and in evaluating the potential contribution of nurses. She has a range of research expertise which is multi method using both qualitative and quantitative approaches. She is also President of the European Oncology Nursing Society (EONS) and Board Member of ECCO – the European CanCer Organisation. Sara was recipient of the E. Milly L. Haagedoorn European Cancer Educator award in 2006.

Research Interests

Research interests relate to supportive and palliative cancer care centering on and around survivorship, nursing interventions and health evaluation within the practice setting. Current projects are in urology and gynaecology, developing and testing self management strategies, assistive technology in palliative radiotherapy and nurse-led approaches to supportive care. She is particularly interested in developing an evidence base for supporting cancer patients in the transition through cancer therapy especially following completion of initial treatment and follow-up.

Current and ongoing research is funded by Dimbleby and is an evaluation of behavioural and self management techniques in men with prostate cancer (BUMPS study).

Research Experience
10 years of research experience of data collection and analysis of both qualitative and quantitative methodology. In previous studies (PhD & NHS projects) I have gained skills in the development and evaluation of service interventions for managing complex symptoms especially in managing symptoms as a result of cancer as a chronic illness. I supervise 8 doctoral students and 5 MSc students at present. I have 4 successful doctoral completers.

Research Training
Received certified update training on ICH-GCP and the EU Directive on January 2010 (Brookwood International Academy). Update training on the use of qualitative analysis.

Current Research Projects
2011 Evaluation of readiness and confidence of NHS and voluntary sector in managing long term consequences of cancer treatment as chronic illness NCSI & Macmillan cancer support (with Dr Carol Samuel)

2011 Evaluation of Oncolink as a tool for clinical staff, barriers and facilitators of using internet guidance NCSI & Macmillan cancer relief (with Anna Cox & Dr Freda Mold)

2010 Self management urinary symptoms after treatment for prostate Cancer (with Jane Cockle Hearne) Dimbleby Cancer Care

2010 STEPP A stepped community support programme for men experiencing the long term symptoms of prostate cancer and its treatment. Macmillan Cancer support (Sussex Community Health NHS Trust)

2010 Providing supportive care and advice to men with prostate cancer|: assessing the needs of men across Europe. (Jane Cockle Hearne) European Oncology Nursing Society

Recently Completed Research
2009 SEEDA Supportive Palliative radiotherapy Assessment (SPaCE); using  innovative technology in cancer care (A Flowerday Docobo Ltd, Dr W Knibb, C Potter, A Cox)

2008 Development of Cancer Assessment and Rehabilitation Triage tool kit for recovery using e technology (Anna Cox, Matt Hickey INTaCare)

2006 Surrey, West Sussex and Hampshire, Service development project: Exploration of informal carers needs of patients with a malignant brain tumour (Dr A Arber, Dr C Lucas)

2003 Prostate Cancer Charity; Evaluating the prostate cancer specialist nurse (led by Prof. Alison Richardson, Kings College London)

2006 EPSRC Guardian Angels: Palliative radiotherapy assessment:  exploratory study (Dr W Knibb, N Beech)

2005 CR-UK Behavioural Urinary Management of Prostate Symptoms (BUMPS) following prostate radiotherapy (Dr V Khoo, J Cockle Hearne)

2003 NHS Service Redevelopment Fund; redesigning gynaecological oncology patient follow up: development and evaluation (Lead clinician Prof. H.Thomas, J Cockle Hearne, W Knibb)

2003 Research and Development Fund RSCH; The utilisation and costs of complementary and alternative medical (CAM) therapies within and existing cancer centre (H.Gage, Dr K Poole, C.McDowell)

2003 SWSH (Surrey, West Sussex and Hampshire Cancer network) Educational needs analysis on cancer treatment for community nurses (S. Musoke)

2003 Owen and Mumford Ltd; National survey of radiotherapy centres and gynaecological nurse specialists (in collaboration with I White, City University and the National Forum for Gynae-oncology Nurses)

Publications

Peer reviewed journals

Cox A, Illsley M, Knibb W, Lucas C, O'Driscoll M, Potter C, Flowerday A, Faithfull S. (early on-line) The acceptability of e-technology to monitor and assess patient symptoms following palliative radiotherapy for lung cancer.  Palliative Medicine (doi: 10.1177/0269216311399489)

Faithfull S, Cockle Hearne J, Khoo V (2011) Self-management following prostate cancer treatment: evaluating the feasibility of providing a cognitive and behavioural programme for LUTS, British Journal of Urology (International) 107(5): 783-790

Arber A, Hutson N, Guerrero D, Wilson S, Lucas C, Faithfull S.  (2010)  Carers of patients with a primary malignant brain tumour: Are their information needs being met?  British Journal of Neuroscience Nursing 6(7): 329-334.

Cockle Hearne J, Faithfull S (2010) Self management for men surviving prostate cancer: A review of behavioural and psychosocial interventions to understand what strategies can work, for whom and in what circumstances. Psycho- oncology 19(9): 909-922

Bishop L, Faithfull S, Allan H (2010) An exploration of the influences on clinical decision making and the culture of blood transfusion practise in cancer-related anaemia using an ethnographic methodology, Support Care Cancer 19:203-210

Probst S, Arber A, Faithfull S.Malignant fungating wounds: a survey of nurses' clinical practice in Switzerland.(2009) Eur J Oncol Nurs. 2009 Sep;13(4):295-8. Epub Apr 21

Ream E, Wilson-Barnett J, Faithfull S, Fincham L, Khoo V, Richardson A (2009) Working patterns and perceived contribution of prostate cancer clinical nurse specialists: a mixed method investigation. Int J Nurs Stud. 2009 Oct;46(10):1345-54. Epub Apr 8

Gage H, Storey L, McDowell C, Maguire G, Williams P, Faithfull S, Thomas H, Poole K (2008) Integrated care: utilisation of complementary and alternative medicine within a conventional cancer treatment centre. Complement Ther Med. 2009 Apr;17(2):84-91. Epub Nov 11

Cox A, Bull E, Cockle-Hearne J, Knibb W, Potter C, Faithfull S. (2008) Nurse led telephone follow up in ovarian cancer: a psychosocial perspective. Eur J Oncol Nurs. 2008 Dec;12(5):412-7. Epub Oct 8

Ream E, Quennell A, Fincham L, Faithfull S, Wilson Barnett J, Richardson A. (2008) Supportive care needs of men living with prostate cancer in England: a survey. British Journal of Cancer : 98 (12): 1903-1909

Faithfull S. and White I. (2008) Delivering sensitive health care information: challenging the taboo of women’s sexual health after pelvic radiotherapy International Journal of Gynaecological Cancer 71 (2) 228-223

Davidson S & Faithfull S (2006) Editorial, Late radiotherapy effects, is bowel morbidity adequately documented or patients needs managed appropriately? Clinical Oncology (UK)

White I & Faithfull S (2006) Vaginal Dilation Associated with Pelvic Radiotherapy: A UK Survey of Current Practice, International Journal of Gynaecological Practice 16, 1146-1149

Faithfull S E. Milly L. Haagedoorn Lecture EACE 2006. Developing oncology nurse education and training across Europe. J Cancer Educ. 2006 Winter;21(4):212-5.

De Snoo L & Faithfull S (2006) The phenomenon of anterior resection syndrome: the experiences of cancer survivors European Journal of Cancer Care 15, 244-251

Faithfull S, Cook K & Lucas C (2005) Palliative care of patients with a primary malignant brain tumour: case review of service use and support provided, Palliative Medicine 19 545-550

Faithfull S & Hunt G (2005) Exploring Nursing Values in the Development of a Nurse-led Service. Nursing Ethics 12 (5) 440-452

Faithfull S (2005) FACET Developments in radiotherapy: treatment for cancer implications for practice European Journal of Cancer Care 14 91-100

Faithfull S Deery P (2004) Implementation of Capceitabine (Xeloda) into a cancer centre: UK experience Eur J Oncol Nurs 8 Suppl 1 S54-62

Faithfull S (2004) Assessing fatigue and self care strategies in patients receiving radiotherapy for non small cell cancer by Borthwick D et al, Eur J Oncol Nurs March 8 (1) 85-6

Deery, P & Faithfull, S (2003) Developing a patient pathway to deliver a new oral chemotherapy drug into a cancer centre. Professional Nurse Oct 19(2) 102-6

Faithfull, S (2002) Critical Review: The organisation of Cancer Nursing Services in The UK. Nursing Times Research July/August 7(4) p297

Faithfull, S. Hilton, M (2002) Survey of information leaflets on advice for acute radiation skin reactions: rationale for a systematic review European Journal of Oncology Nursing 6 (3) 176-8

Faithfull, S. Corner, J, Myer,L, Huddart, R and Dearnaley,D (2001) Evaluation of nurse-led care for men undergoing pelvic radiotherapy. British Journal of Cancer 85(12) 1853-1864

Glean,E, Edwards,S, Faithfull,S, Meredith,C, Richards,C, Smith,M, Colyer,H (2001) Intervention for acute radiotherapy induced skin reactions in cancer patients: the development of a clinical guideline recommended for use by the college of Radiographers. Journal of Radiotherapy in Practice 2(2) 75-84

Books and Chapters
Faithfull, S (2008) The psychology of Radiotherapy. In. S Ayers, A Baum C MacManus, K Wallston, J Weinman & R West. Cambridge Handbook of Health and Medicine 2nd Ed Cambridge Press Cambridge

Faithfull, S (2006) Radiotherapy, In Corner, J & Bailey C. (Eds.) Cancer Nursing: Care in Context Blackwell Scientific 222-261 2nd Edition

Faithfull, S (2006) Radiotherapy: the European context for Cancer Treatment In Kearney N and Richardson A. European Oncology Nursing, Elsevier

Faithfull, S & Wells, M (2003) (Eds) Supportive care in radiotherapy, Harcourt Brace

Faithfull,S. (2001) How many subjects are needed in a research sample in palliative care?, In Field, D Clark, D Corner, J Davis C (Eds) Researching Palliative Care, Open University press, Buckingham

Teaching

As a Professor of Cancer Nursing Practice, she is responsible for cancer and palliative care teaching co-ordination and leads the Surrey and West Sussex and Hampshire cancer network education group. She is also involved in post graduate teaching of health care practice research. Teaching responsibilities include the supervision of Ph.D students, Doctorate of Clinical Practice and MSc students.