Hirschman, Karen B
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Publication How Do Tangible Supports Impact the Breast Cancer Experience?(2005-01-01) Hirschman, Karen B; Bourjolly, Joretha NA woman’s ability to navigate her new role as a breast cancer patient can be impacted by the support she has available to her during this time. One form of social support, tangible support, refers to providing support in a physical way that assists an individual in meeting their role responsibilities. The Roy Adaptation Model was used as a framework for conceptualizing the various roles in a woman’s life that can be impacted by breast cancer and how the type and extent of tangible support impacts these roles. Through a qualitative open-ended interview, 33 women with breast cancer described their experiences with their illness as it pertains to issues of role function and tangible supports.Publication Open Label Extension Studies and the Ethical Design of Clinical Trials(2001-08-01) Cassarett, David; Karlawish, Jason; Sankar, Pamela; Hirschman, Karen; Asch, David A.Publication Similarities in Coping Strategies but Differences in Sources of Support Among African American and White Women Coping with Breast Cancer(2001-01-01) Bourjolly, Joretha N; Hirschman, Karen BAfrican American women are less likely to be diagnosed with breast cancer than white women but are more likely to be adversely affected. However, little attention has been paid to how these women cope with the disease or whether they differ from white women in coping with breast cancer. Using a comparative design, this study analyzed the differences in coping strategies and use of social support between African American and white women with breast cancer. Findings suggest that both groups tend to seek social support as a way of coping with their breast cancer but differ in their sources of support. Social workers are urged to consider that there may be differences in sources of social support between racially and ethnically diverse populations. These differences may have an impact on the type of support provided and therefore on patients' need for service.Publication African-American and White Women’s Appraisal of their Breast Cancer(2003-01-01) Bourjolly, Joretha N; Hirschman, Karen B; Barg, Frances KAfrican-American women are less likely to be diagnosed with breast cancer than are White women but are more likely to be adversely affected. Although differences in incidence and mortality have been explored in some depth, little attention has been paid to how these women cope with the disease or whether their appraisal of their breast cancer differs from that of White women. Using a comparative design, this study analyzed the differences in appraisal between African-American and White women with breast cancer. The findings suggest that no differences exist between African-American and White women’s appraisal of their breast cancer. The type of primary appraisal used most by both groups was harm to their health, safety, and physical well-being. The secondary appraisal used most was that breast cancer was an experience they had to accept. Possible links between appraisal and cognitive representations of illness and suggestions for further research on the appraisal are discussed.