Dr. Otte's independent program of biobehavioral research addresses symptom management in cancer and non-cancer populations. Specifically, she focuses on improving sleep problems in breast cancer survivors (BCS) and menopausal women. Her research program involves a unique combination of multidisciplinary clinicians, basic scientists, and biobehavioral researchers, and it builds on her F31 supported doctoral and R25 supported postdoctoral research in an effort to improve quality of life and reduce the burden of poor sleep. Dr. Otte has completed a series of important studies that builds towards the development and testing of new assessments and treatment plans to better manage sleep problems in cancer and non-cancer populations. She has led projects with interdisciplinary teams that include collaborations with nursing, psychology, psychiatry, biostatistics, medical and radiation oncology, clinical pharmacology, and sleep medicine national academic institutions. The four main points of this biobehavioral research are: (1) improved understanding of underlying etiology and prevalence of sleep problems in BCS, (2) improved knowledge of available measures of sleep, (3) improved understanding of interventions for sleep in BCS and menopausal women, and (4) development of a clinically relevant assessment tool and treatment plan for poor sleep.
