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My areas of research interest include Gero-oncology, psychosocial oncology, family caregivers, palliative and end of life care. The goal of my research is to enhance quality of life for older adults and their families. To accomplish this goal I have the privilege of leading several multidisciplinary teams. My program of research is entitled "Living with Hope" which includes research studies of hope for persons with advanced cancer, family caregivers and health care providers. This program of research has received funding from local, provincial and national grants. Five film documentaries of these studies have been produced. The film entitled “Living with Hope” has received 2 international awards. These films and abstracts of the hope studies can be viewed on my Living with Hope website.

My current funded research includes the development of psychosocial supportive interventions for male spouses of women with breast cancer, caregiving of persons with dementia and living with hope program for persons with advanced disease. These are in different stages of development and testing. The interventions were developed from qualitative data and pilot tested using mixed method approaches. My research is translational so that it can inform nursing research, practice and policy. This research has received multiple awards for excellence: Canadian Association for Nursing Research (CANR), Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Award and College & Association of Registered Nurses of Alberta (CARNA).

Degrees

• Bachelor of Science in Nursing (with Distinction), University of Saskatchewan (1975)
• Masters in Nursing, University of Alberta (1990)
• PhD in Nursing, University of Texas-Houston Health Sciences Center (1999)

Current Grants

• Pesut, B., Duggleby, W., Warner, G., Fassbender, K., O’Connor, B., Ghosh, S., Holroyd-Leduc, J., Nekolaichuck, C., & Urquhart, R., Barwich, D., Sullivan, K., Greig, M. (+14 community partner sites & 12 decision/policy makers). Volunteer Navigation Partnerships: A compassionate community approach to early palliative care. Max Bell Foundation, $328,899. November 2017 to December 2020.

• Pesut, B. (PI), Duggleby, W. (Co-I), Warner, G., Gerard, L., Lynn, B., Fassbender, K., O’Connor, B., Edwards, R., Shervill, L., Davidson, J. An integrated knowledge translation approach to implementing a model of volunteer navigation for rural older adults living with advanced cancer. Canadian Cancer Society Research Institute Knowledge Translation Grant, $100,000. September 1, 2016 to August 31, 2018.

• Pesut, B. (Nom PI), Duggleby, W., (Co-PI) Barwich, D., Warner, G., Dalhuisen, M., Ghosh, S., Holroyd-Leduc, J., Angevine, P., Antifeau, E., Baxter, S., Cash, C., Downer, K., Gerard, L., Hynes, G., Joyce, S., Nekolaichuk, C., Nicholson, C., O’Connor, B., Parmar, J., Peterson-Fraser, M., Scales, M., Urquhart, R., Woytkiw, R. Partner hospice societies: Bulkley Valley, Central Okanagan, Colchester East Hants, Cranbrook Kimberley, Desert Valley, Nelson and District, North Okanagan, Olds and District. An integrated knowledge translation approach to examining a model of volunteer navigation (N-CARE) to support older adults living with advance chronic illness in the home. Canadian Institutes of Health Research, $347,847. Sept 2016 to August 2019.

• Duggleby, W. (PI), Pesut, B., Warner, G., Fassbender, K., Nekolaichuk, C., Holroyd-Leduc, J., Ghosh, S., Hallstrom, L., MacLeod, R, Murphy, S., Klein, L, Antymnuik, C., Clark, G., Peterson-Fraser, M., Woytkiw, T. & Laing, R. Navigation Partnerships: Connecting, Accessing, Resourcing and Engaging (N-CARE) Older Persons, Families and Communities. $170, 997. Covenant Health Seniors Health and Wellness Innovation Fund. June 1, 2016- May 2018.