Skip to Content

'
Patricia A. Parker, Ph.D.

Present Title & Affiliation

Primary Appointment

Assistant Professor, Department of Behavioral Science, Division of OVP, Cancer Prevention and Population Sciences, The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX

Bio Statement

Dr. Patricia A. Parker is a clinical psychologist and assistant professor in the department of Behavioral Science.   Her research primarily focuses on healthcare provider-patient communication and quality of life among different cancer patient populations. She has conducted several studies examining aspects of physician-patient communication including how patients are told news of their diagnosis and the impact of the physician-patient encounter on patients’ psychosocial adjustment. She has a NCI-funded career development award that examines the influence of physician-patient communication and illness uncertainty on the psychosocial adjustment of individuals with metastatic cancer of unknown primary site (CUP). In addition, she is PI of a NCI-funded R03 application to further examine the audiotaped recordings between patients with CUP and their healthcare providers that are being collected as part of the K07 project.  Specifically, this project examines both qualitatively and quantitatively the nature of the medical interaction when more than one provider is involved in the consultation. She collaborates with faculty from the Departments of Urology and Genitourinary Medical Oncology on projects examining watchful waiting in patients with prostate cancer and renal cell carcinoma.  Dr. Parker recently received a M. D. Anderson Institutional Research Grant to examine the feasibility of a communication skills intervention for physician assistants who work in oncology. Dr. Parker is also PI of a NCI-funded Community Clinical Oncology Program study to examine an intervention designed to increase the frequency with which clinicians ask their patients about complementary and alternative medicine use. 

Research Interests

Healthcare Provider-Patient Communication

Quality of Life

Education & Training

Degree-Granting Education

1998 San Diego State University/University of California, Joint Doctoral Program in Clinical Psychology, San Diego, CA, PHD, Clinical Psychology
1991 University of California, Los Angeles, CA, BA, Psychology

Postgraduate Training

9/1998-12/1999 Postdoctoral Fellowship, The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Department of Behavioral Science, Houston, Dr. Lorenzo Cohen

Selected Publications

Peer-Reviewed Original Research Articles
1. Mauri E, Vegni E, Lozza E, Parker PA, Moja EA. An exploratory study of the Italian patients' preferences regarding how they would like to be told about their cancer. Supportive Care in Cancer. In Press.
2. Brown VL, Parker PA, Furber L, Thomas AL. Patient preferences for the delivery of bad news - the experience of a UK Cancer Centre. European Journal of Cancer Care. In Press.
3. Ross AC, Polansky M, Parker PA, Palmer, JL. Understanding the Role of Physician Assistants in Oncology. Journal of Oncology Practice. In Press.
4. Parker PA, Pettaway CA, Babaian RJ, Pisters LL, Miles B, Fortier AH, Wei Q, Carr DD, Cohen L. The Effects of a Pre-Surgical Stress Management Intervention for Men with Prostate Cancer Undergoing Radical Prostatectomy. Journal of Clinical Oncology 27(19):3169-3176, 7/2009. e-Pub 4/2009. PMID: 19349551.
5. Parker PA, Aaron J, Baile WF. Breast cancer: Unique communication challenges and strategies to address them. The Breast Journal 15(1):69-75, 2009.
6. Pruitt SL, Parker PA, Follen M, Basen-Engquist K. Communicating colposcopy results: What do patients and providers discuss? The Journal of Lower Genital Tract Disease 12:95-102, 2008.
7. Heller L, Parker PA, Youssef A, Miller MJ. Interactive digital education aid in breast reconstruction. Plast Reconstr Surg 122(3):717-24, 2008. PMID: 18766034.
8. Fujimori M, Parker PA, Akechi T, Sakano Y, Baile W, Uchitomi Y. Japanese cancer patients' preferences for physicians' communication style when receiving bad news. Psycho-Oncology 16:617-625, 2007.
9. Parker PA, Youssef A, Walker S, Basen-Engquist K, Cohen L. Gritz ER, Wei QX, Robb GL. Short-term and long-term psychosocial adjustment and quality of life in women undergoing different surgical procedures for breast cancer. Annals of Surgical Oncology 14:3078-3089, 2007.
10. Canada AL, Parker PA, de Moor JS, Basen-Engquist K, Ramondetta LM, Cohen L. Active coping mediates the association between religion/spirituality and quality of life in ovarian cancer. Gynecol Oncol 101:102-7, 2006. PMID: 16256181.
11. Chiu L, Lee W, Parker PA, Gao F, Ngb G, Toh CK. Cancer patients' preferences for communication of unfavorable news: An Asian perspective. Supportive Care and Cancer 14:818-824, 2006.
12. Parker PA, Cohen L, Bhadkamkar VA, Babaian RJ, Smith MA, Gritz ER, Basen-Engquist KM. Demographic and past screening behaviors of men attending a free community screening program for prostate cancer. Health Promot Pract 7:213-20, 2006. PMID: 16585144.
13. Parker PA, Kudelka A, Basen-Engquist K, Kavanagh J, de Moor J, Cohen L.. The associations between knowledge, CA125 preoccupation, and distress in women with epithelial ovarian cancer. Gynecol Oncol 100:495-500, 2006. PMID: 16242759.
14. Parker PA, Davison BJ, Tishelman C, Brundage MD and the SCRN Communication Team (Hack T, Degner L, Baile W, Bultz B, Butler L, Carlson L, Feldman-Stewart D & Thorne S). What do we know about facilitating patient communication in the cancer care setting? Psycho-Oncology 14:848-858, 2005.
15. Parker PA. Breast reconstruction and psychosocial adjustment: What have we learned and where do we go from here? Seminars in Plastic Surgery 182:131-138, 2004.
16. Parker PA, Baile WF, de Moor C, Cohen L. Psychosocial and demographic predictors of quality of life in a large sample of cancer patients. Psycho-Oncology 12:183-93, 2003. PMID: 12619150.
17. Parker PA, Middleton MS, Kulik JA. Counterfactual thinking and quality of life among women with silicone breast implants. J Behav Med 25:317-35, 2002. PMID: 12136495.
18. Parker PA, Baile WF, de Moor C, Lenzi R, Kudelka AP, Cohen L. Breaking bad news about cancer: patients' preferences for communication. J Clin Oncol 19:2049-56, 2001. PMID: 11283138.

Book Chapters
1. Baile WF, Parker PA. Breaking Bad News. In: Handbook of Communication in Oncology and Palliative Care. Ed(s) Kissane DW, Bultz BD, Butow P, Finlay I. In Press.
2. Rao A, Baile W, Parker P. Conflict Resolution at an Academic Medical Center: The Ombuds Office. In: Faculty Health in Academic Medicine: Physicians, Scientists and the Pressures of Success. Ed(s) TR Cole, TJ Goodrich, ER Gritz. Human Press: Totowa, NJ, 2009.
3. Baile WF, Aaron J, Parker PA. Practitioner-Patient Communication in Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment. In: Handbook of Cancer Control and Behavioral Science: A Resource for Researchers, Practitioners, and Policymakers. Ed(s) S Miller, D Bowen, R Croyle, J Rowland. American Psychological Association, 2008.
4. Lenzi R, Baile WF, Rodary C, Parker PA. Psychosocial aspects of Cancer of Unknown primary. In: Cancer of Unknown Primary Site. Ed(s) K Fizazi. Informa Healthcare, 2006. PMID: 0824727991.

Grant & Contract Support

Title: Communication Skills Training Intervention for Physician Assistants: A Feasibility Study
Funding Source: Institutional Research Grant
Role: Principal Investigator
Duration: 1/30/2009 - 1/31/2010
 
Title: Influence of uncertainty and communication on adjustment
Funding Source: NIH/NCI
Role: Principal Investigator
Duration: 7/30/2003 - 6/30/2009
 
Title: Developing Providers' Communication and Counseling Skills in Cancer Genetics Using Virtual Reality
Funding Source: Institutional Research Grant
Role: Co-Investigator
Principal Investigator: Susan K. Peterson

Last updated: 9/21/2009