Flinders University
Research Field: Psycho-Oncology
Receiving a cancer diagnosis naturally causes considerable distress. Left untreated, this distress can have serious consequences, including lower quality of life, more treatment side effects and potentially reduced chance of survival. Despite this, less than 20% of distressed cancer patients choose to attend psychological therapy. Dr Beatty is exploring innovative ways of reducing distress for cancer patients, and has developed online self-help programs which have been shown to reduce distress and improve quality of life of cancer patients. Dr Beatty’s work helps improve the health and wellbeing of people suffering from cancer, overcomes a service gap, and also allows resources for existing face-to-face services to be directed to those patients with the most severe mental health concerns.
Lisa’s research addresses real world patients’ needs and is shaped by community consultation and engagement at all stages – from successful development through to evaluation and implementation of the programs.
Dr Beatty was awarded her PhD in Clinical Psychology from Flinders University in 2009. She currently holds the position of Cancer Council SA Postdoctoral Fellow (Cancer Support) at the Flinders Centre for Innovation in Cancer, Flinders University.