The following projects represent some of Dr. Collie’s research interests. For more details of her academic work, please see her resume and its lists of projects, presentations, and publications.

1. 2008 - Principal Investigator ‘Arts in Medicine at the Cross Cancer Institute: Strengths, Weaknesses, Measurable Constructs’ Alberta Cancer Research Institute (C$37,000)
   

2. 
   Abstract: Creative expression is increasingly being used in cancer care for such purposes as facilitating emotional expression, increasing sense of control, reducing pain, promoting inner strength and sense of purpose, reducing stress, reducing isolation, enhancing mind-body communication, strengthening identity, and helping people make sense of cancer. The Arts in Medicine program in the Department of Psychosocial and Spiritual Resources at the Cross Cancer Institute in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada consists primarily of art, music, and writing classes for cancer patients and their family members. The classes are similar in many ways to standard support groups but emphasize non-verbal rather than verbal expression and appeal to people for whom a support group based entirely on talking would not be appropriate. Each class is taught by a professional artist who has experience working with medical patients and is co-facilitated by a psycho-oncology clinician. Arts-based groups can extend the known benefits of support groups to a wider range of people, such as Aboriginal people, people who would not usually discuss illness outside their immediate family, and people who are not fluent in English. They emphasize personal resources, promote social support, and do not carry the implication that people facing cancer require help. This 12-month evaluation of the Arts in Medicine program was designed to a) assess the strengths and weaknesses of the program, (b) determine how to include more non-mainstream people in the program, and (c) identify measurable constructs for future outcome studies about the program.
   

3. 2004 - Lead writer and qualitative researcher ‘Expanding Rural Access: Distance Delivery of Support Groups’ California Breast Cancer Research Program (US$100,000)
   

4. 
   Abstract: Participation in support groups is known to reduce distress, improve coping, and possibly lengthen survival time for women with breast cancer. However, most women in rural areas do not have access to support groups. To address this inequality, we conducted a community-university collaborative study to determine the feasibility, acceptability, and utility of support groups for rural women with breast cancer using videoconferencing. We conducted four 8-week support groups involving 34 women with breast cancer in 4 remote rural counties in northeastern California. The women attended by going to local clinics with videoconferencing facilities. The facilitator, a social worker with experience leading cancer support groups, was at a separate site. Each woman completed a social support questionnaire at baseline and was interviewed after her group ended. Additionally, each woman completed pre and post measures of depression, social support, self-efficacy, coping, emotional expression, and quality of life. The preliminary findings suggest that the groups were beneficial, that there is a need for professionally led support groups that allow rural women with breast cancer to share localized medical information with each other, and that videoconferencing is a means of meeting this need that is feasible, appealing, and readily acceptable, including to women of advanced age.
   

5. 2003 - Principle Investigator ‘Art For Recovery: Expanding Access for the Underserved’
   Postdoctoral Fellowship, California Breast Cancer Research Program (US$80,000)
   

6. 
   Abstract: The goal of this interview study was to determine if and how art-based groups could increase support group participation on the part of women with breast cancer from underserved groups in the San Francisco Bay Area by overcoming psychological and cultural barriers that limit support group participation. There is strong research evidence that support groups that promote emotional expression and social support can reduce distress and improve coping for women with breast cancer and possibly lengthen survival time. However, most women with breast cancer do not attend professionally-led support groups. Those who do tend to be white and middle- or upper-class. It is necessary to make support groups available to as many women with breast cancer as possible, yet support groups based on talking may not be appropriate for all women. A qualitative analysis of interviews with 15 women with breast cancer from underserved groups showed that art groups can be an appealing and life-affirming alternative to standard talking-only groups and are a way to promote emotional expression and social interaction while reducing language barriers and avoiding the stigma of ‘therapy’.
   

7. 2001 - Lead writer and primary researcher ‘Meaning Making Through Art Therapy for Women with Breast Cancer: A Telehealth Project’  Hampton Fund Research Grant, University of British Columbia (C$24,000)
   

8. 2000 - Lead writer and primary researcher ‘Creative Expression in Psychosocial Care for People Facing Cancer’ Social Science & Humanities Research Council of Canada (C$61,000)
   

9. 1999 - Lead writer and research assistant ‘Telehealth: Wellness and Health Education’
   Faculty of Education Grant, University of British Columbia (C$45,000)