Dr Kate Absolom
- Position: University Academic Fellow
- Areas of expertise: quality of life; patient reported outcome measures (PROMs); cancer; psycho-oncology; utilising patient reported data
- Email: K.L.Absolom@leeds.ac.uk
- Phone: +44(0)113 206 8952
- Location: Level 6, Bexley Wing, St James’ University Hospital
- Website: | Twitter | Googlescholar | ORCID
Profile
Kate is a University Academic Fellow interested in the quality of life implications of cancer, particularly the collection and utilisation of patient-reported data. Since joining the Section of Patient Centred Outcomes Research (PCOR) in Leeds in 2008 Kate has delivered projects investigating the management of emotional distress during cancer and doctor-patient communication in oncology consultations. More recently she has been involved with the development and evaluation of online technology for capturing cancer patients' self-reported symptom data for use in routine clinical practice.
Previously Kate held a postdoctoral position with the Late Effects Group, Sheffield where she contributed to a number of studies focussed on the impact of cancer on the lives of younger adults. Kate studied psychology at Lancaster University and completed a PhD at the University of Sheffield in 2005. Her doctoral research, funded by Cancer Research UK, explored models of follow-up care for people treated for cancer in childhood.
Research interests
Kate’s primary research interests include exploring how the quality of life assessments/patient reported outcome measures (PROMs) can be effectively used to support clinical practice, patient care and management choices. This includes how online technologies and electronic health records can be used to capture and harness the ways patients and health professionals engage with and interpret patient reported data.
She is also interested in the wider psychosocial impact of cancer and treatment on patients and families.
Qualifications
- PhD Follow-up care for survivors of childhood cancer, University of Sheffield, 2006
- BSc (Hons) Psychology, Lancaster University 2000
Professional memberships
- Chair Elect - British Psychosocial Oncology Society (BPOS).
- Co-Chair - Quality of Life in Clinical Practice Special Interest Group International Society for Quality of Life Research (ISOQOL)
- Chatered Member - British Psychological Society
Student education
Kate is a tutor for the MBChB Year 1 Individuals and Populations course and is also a personal tutor for students on the MBChB and Health Informatics MSc.
Research groups and institutes
- Leeds Institute of Medical Research at St James's
- Leeds Institute of Health Sciences
- Health Services Research Division