Research Fellow
Email: S.L.Catt@sussex.ac.uk
Tel: (UK) 01273 87 3024, (Int.) +44 1273 87 3024
Fax: 01273 87 3022
Biography/research interests
Sue trained as a nurse at St George's hospital in London, subsequently completing a BSc in Psychology at Warwick University. She worked as a research assistant on the neuro-psycho-physiological follow-up of HIV+ men participating in the early placebo-controlled trial of Zidovudine (AZT). At Reading University she did an MSc and her PhD, which looked at the early perceptions and behavioural effects of fats in the diet of human infants. She took a post-doctoral position in Edinburgh on a study investigating the psychosocial implications of genetic testing for hereditary bowel cancer. Just prior to moving to Sussex she coordinated a study in London for Professors Michael King and Julia Addington-Hall on the attitudes of older people towards end-of-life issues.
She joined the Sussex Health Outcomes, Research & Education in Cancer in 2002 and is employed
on the Unit's core research programme on communication and supportive care
in oncology. This has included studies on multidisciplinary team working
and another developing and validating training materials for helping doctors
and nurses talk to their patients about randomised clinical trials (RCTs).
New projects (see links below) that she contributes to include the investigation
of doctor-patient communication during consultations about Phase 1 (first
in man) clinical trials, an RCT of an intervention to improve cancer teams
talking to their patients about recruitment into clinical trials and pilot
work on the efficacy of acupuncture for the relief of xerostomia (chronic
dry mouth) in patients treated for head and neck cancer. She is principle
investigator on a study looking at follow-up care for patients with highly
malignant brain tumours.
Current studies
Preferences for Herceptin SC or IV administration (PrefHer)
Progression Free Survival (PFS)