Research
Carmen Rodriguez
Technology-Enhanced Interventions for Symptom Management in Cancer Patients
Innovative technology-enhanced interventions to improve the communication of needs and symptoms during periods of a sudden inability to verbalize resulting from cancer or cancer treatment
Carmen S. Rodríguez, PhD, ANP-BC, AOCN -- Principal Investigator
Dr. Rodríguez serves as an Associate Professor at the University of South Florida College of Nursing. As an experienced clinician and researcher, her primary areas of impact are associated with symptom science, the improvement of health, and achieving health equity for cancer patients across the continuum of care. Her program of research is recognized for her expertise in behavioral oncology, and clinical trial intervention research for improving the quality of life and health equity of “suddenly speechless” critical care and advanced stage head and neck cancer survivors. Over the course of her career, Dr. Rodríguez has actively contributed to advances in oncology nursing science, with major practice and service contributions to integrate evidence and advance the quality of care for cancer patients, including the Hispanic/Latino populations and disadvantaged immigrants. She has led her interdisciplinary team to design, build and evaluate an innovative Technology-Enhanced Communication Intervention (TECI) program, to assist patient “communication” for improvement of clinical outcomes.
Meet Our Team
Our multidisciplinary team is committed to conducting research that focuses on improving the quality of life and health equity of “suddenly speechless” cancer patients. Our team utilizes innovative technology-enhanced interventions to improve the communication of needs and symptoms during periods of a sudden inability to verbalize resulting from cancer or cancer treatment. Our research investigates the integration of communication interventions in the acute care setting and across the continuum of care for head and neck cancer survivors with the inability to verbalize needs, and its impact on nurses, healthcare staff, and informal caregivers. Our team is also involved in the development of smart healthcare systems to remotely monitor and assess cancer patients’ progress at home with medical sensors.
Our multidisciplinary team includes the following disciplines: Nursing, Medicine, Engineering, Communication Disorders, Statistician, Intervention Design, and Caregiver Expertise.
M. Mifsud, MD
S. Watts, PhD, SLP
S. Katkoori, PhD
C.Lengacher, PhD, RN
M.Ji, PhD