Dr Danette Langbecker

Biography

Background

In 2013, Dr Danette Langbecker was awarded a National Health and Medical Research Council Research Fellow at the Supportive and Palliative Care Research Group with the Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation (IHBI). Danette has over 10 years of research experience in the area of supportive care in cancer.

Industry Research Activities

Dr Langbecker’s research relates to understanding and trying to improve the psychosocial well-being and quality of life, and meeting the supportive care needs of people affected by cancer, with particular interest in people affected by primary brain tumours. Using funds awarded through the IHBI Early Career Research Scheme, Danette conducted a population-based survey of adults diagnosed with primary brain tumours in Queensland, discovering gaps in their knowledge of and referral to information, support and practical services. Her fellowship program is building upon this work to develop and test an online psycho-educational intervention to support family members to care for brain cancer patients.

She is also interested in how consumers understand health messages, and is currently leading a Cochrane Collaboration systematic review of the effectiveness of education for skin cancer prevention.

Project Highlights

2014–2018:         Caring for the carer: improving self-efficacy to provide care and reducing anxiety among family carers of primary brain tumour patients. NHMRC Early Career Fellowship - Australian Public Health Fellowship.

2012 – 2014:       Evaluation of the Role of the Prostate Cancer Specialist Nurse – A National PCFA Pilot Project. Prostate Cancer Foundation of Australia Limited.

2009 – 2011:       Collaborated with consumers and health professionals to develop a booklet for people affected by primary brain tumour titled It’s Okay to Ask. Queensland University of Technology.