Robin Cohen, Ph.D. Associate Professor, Dept Oncology, McGill University Project Director, Lady Davis Institute SMBD Jewish General Hospital, Pavillion H 3755 Cote Ste Catherine, Montreal, Quebec Canada H3T 1E2 Phone: (514) 340-8222 ext 5676 Email: robin.cohen@mcgill.ca

Educational Background

PhD, Experimental Psychology, McGill University
Visiting Fellow, Addiction Research Center, National Institute on Drug Abuse, (U.S.A.)
Postdoctoral Fellow, Div. Palliative Care, Dept. Oncology, McGill

Research Interests

Palliative care; family caregivers; quality of life; quality of care; patients; pain; existential; spiritual

Current Teaching

Graduate students in nursing
Medical students – summer research projects
Palliative care in cancer – graduate seminar

Leader, CIHR/NCIC Strategic Training Program in Palliative Care Research (www.mcgill.ca/cihr-pcresearch)

Current Research and Scholarships

Salary Award

Investigator (Dorothy J. Lamont Scientist); CIHR/NCIC; $350,000 (2001-2008).

Research Funding

Safety in home care: Perspectives from clients, family members, caregivers and providers. (A. Lang {PI}, K. Stajduhar, R. Cohen, A. Williams, A. Easty, S. St. Germain, J. Lachance); Canadian Institutes of Health Research; $159,711 (2007-2010).

An evaluation of Canada's Compassionate Care Benefit from a family caregivers' perspective. (Allison Williams and Valorie Crooks [Co-PIs], K.I. Stajduhar, D. Allan, R. Cohen, K. Brazil); Canadian Institutes of Health Research; $165,490. (2006)

Family caregiving at end of life: A women's health issue (Priscilla Koop [PI], M. deJong-Berg, R. Cohen, A. Williams, K.I. Stajduhar, D. Allan); Canadian Foundation for Women's Health; $8035.43 (2006-2007).

Improving quality-of-life and informing social policy in palliative care. (Robin
Cohen [PI], K.I.. Stajduhar and many others across Canada); The Centre for Behavioural Research and Program Evaluatoin of the National Cancer Institute of Canada; $119,405 (2006-2007).

Measuring the Quality of End of Life Care Provided in Inpatient Health Care Settings. (Kelli Stajduhar and Heather Cook [Co-PIs], D. Allan, D. Heyland, D. Bidgood, L. Norgrove, R. Cohen, A. Williams); Michael Smith Foundation for Health Research; $99,796 (2006-2008).

Quality of Life for Palliative Care Patients and Their Family Caregivers. (Robin Cohen [PI], A. Leis, G. Fyles, R. Viola, P. Porterfield, S. Brown, V. Fiset); National Cancer Institute of Canada; $555,659 (2001-2006).

Prognostic value of clinical correlates of cancer cachexia: A prospective multicenter, population-based study. (A. Vigano [PI], V. Baracos, R. Cohen, M.-A. Dalzell, E. Franco, N. MacDonald, J. Morais, S. Thirlwell); Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR); $200,644 (2004-2007).

T.I.P.S: Tele-homecare in palliation study. (A. Stern, L. Librach [Co-PI's], T. Abernathy, R. Cohen, A. Gafni, C. Goldsmith, A. Jadad, A. Kirshen, L. Thabane); Ontario Ministry of Health Primary Health Care Transition Fund; $1,405,000 (2004-2006).

Developmental Activities Phase I (Tina Wolfson, Parminder Raina, and Susan Kirkland [PI’s], R. Cohen and many others across Canada); $1,744,000 (2004-2005).

Research Infrastructure Funding

Improving Quality of Life and Informing Social Policy in Palliative Care. (Robin Cohen [PI] and many others across Canada); The Centre for Behavioural Research and Program Evaluation of the National Cancer Institute of Canada; $88,000/year (2003-2006).

Strategic Training Program in Palliative Care Cancer Research. (Robin Cohen [PI] and others at McGill, University of Ottawa, and Université Laval); Canadian Institutes of Health Research/National Cancer Institute of Canada; $1,800,000 (2003-2009). Website: www.mcgill.ca/cihr-pcresearch

GRISIM: Groupe de recherche interuniversitaire en soins infirmiers de Montréal. (Celeste Johnston and Nicole Richard [PI’s], R. Cohen, and many others at McGill University and Université de Montréal); FRSQ/Newton Foundation/MSSS; $2,000,000 (2004-2008).

Family Caregiving in Palliative and End-of-Life care: A New Emerging Team. (Kelli Stajduhar, Robin Cohen [Co-PI’s], N. Chappell, P. Koop, A.M. Williams, D. Heyland); Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR); $1,361,361 (2004 – 2009).

A multidisciplinary cancer pain research network to improve the classification, assessment, and management of difficult cancer pain problems. (N.A. Hagen, R.L. Fainsinger, P.M. Brasher [PI’s], R. Cohen and others across Canada); $1,363,586 (2004-2009).

Publications

Articles in peer-reviewed journals

Ahmed, S., Mayo, N.E., Corbiere, M., Wood-Dauphinee, S., Hanley, J., & Cohen, S.R. (in press). Rejoinder: response to commentary. Quality of Life Research.

Ahmed, S., Mayo, N.E., Wood-Dauphinee, S., Hanley, J.A., & Cohen, S.R. (in press). Towards an optimal health-related quality of life (HRQL) measurement strategy under conditions when response shift is likely to occur. Journal of Clinical Epidemiology.

Stajduhar, K.I., Allan, D.E., Cohen, S.R., & Heyland, D. (2008). Preferences for location of death of seriously ill hospitalized patients: Perspectives from Canadian patients and their family caregivers. Palliative Medicine, 22, 85-88.

Williams, A., Crooks, V., Stajduhar, K.I., Allan, D., & Cohen, R. (2006).
Improving Canada’s Compassionate Care Benefit: Recommendations from Family Caregivers Providing End-of-Life Care for Relatives with Advanced Chronic Illness. International Journal of Palliative Nursing, 12(9); 438-445.

Lee, V., Cohen, S.R., Edgar, L., Laizner, A.M., & Gagnon, A. (2006). Meaning-making and the psychological adjustment to cancer: development of an intervention and pilot results. Oncology Nursing Forum, 33(2); 291-302.

Lee, V., Cohen, S.R., Edgar, L., Laizner, A.M., & Gagnon, A. (2006). Meaning-making intervention during breast or colorectal cancer treatment improves self-esteem, optimism, and self-efficacy. Social Science & Medicine, 62(12); 3133-3145.

Ahmed, S., Mayo, N.E., Corbiere, M., Wood-Dauphinee, S., Hanley, J., & Cohen, S.R. (2005). Change in quality of life of people with stroke over time: True change or response shift? Quality of life Research. [Stimulated Commentary], 14; 611-627.

Ahmed, S., Mayo, N.E., Wood-Dauphinee, S., Hanley, J., & Cohen, S.R. (2005). Using the Patient-Generated Index to evaluate response shift post-stroke. Quality of Life Research, 14, 2247-2257.

Macdonald, M.E., Liben, S., Carnevale, F.A., Rennick, J.E., Wolf, S.L., Meloche, D., & Cohen, S.R. (2005). Parental perspectives on hospital staff acts of kindness and commemoration after a child's death. Pediatrics, 116, 884-890.

Ahmed, S., Mayo, N.E., Corbiere, M., Wood-Daughinee, S., Hanley, J., & Cohen, S.R. (2005). Change in quality of life with people with stroke over time: True change or response shift? Quality of Life Research, 14, 611-627.

Lee, V., Cohen, S.R., Edgar, L., Laizner, A.M., & Gagnon, A. (2004). Clarifying “meaning” in the context of cancer research – a systematic literature review. Palliative and Supportive Care, 2, 291-303.

Ahmed, S., Mayo, N.E., Wood-Dauphinee, S., Hanley, J.A., & Cohen, S.R. (2004). Response Shift Influenced Estimates of Change in Health-Related Quality of Life Post-Stroke. Journal of Clinical Epidemiology, 57(6), 561-70. Link Here

Cohen, S.R., & Leis, A. (2002). What Determines the Quality of Life of Terminally Ill Cancer Patients from Their Own Perspective? Journal of Palliative Care,18, 48-58. Link Here

Cohen, S.R., Boston, P., Mount, B.M., & Porterfield, P. (2001). Changes in Quality of Life Following Admission to Palliative Care Units. Palliative Medicine, 15, 363-371. Link Here

Cohen, S.R., & Mount, B.M. (2000). Pain with Life-threatening Illness: Its Perception and Control are Inextricably Linked with Quality of Life. Pain Research & Management, 5(4), 271-275.

Cohen, S.R., & Mount, B.M. (2000). Living with cancer: “Good Days” and “Bad Days” – What produces them? Can the McGill Quality of Life Questionnaire distinguish between them? Cancer, 89(8), 1854-1865. Link Here

Cameron, A.J.R., Brown, K.S., Cohen, S.R., Leis, A.M., Manske, S., Olson, K., & Ritvo, P.G. (1997). Critique of the National Cancer Institute of Canada’s Framework for Cancer Control. Cancer Prevention and Control, 1, 361-365.

Cohen, S.R., MacNeil, C., & Mount, B. (1997). Well-being at the End of Life. Part 2. A Research Agenda Concerning Delivery of Care From the Patient’s Perspective. Cancer Prevention and Control, 1, 343-351. Link Here

Cohen, S.R., Bultz, B., Clarke, J., Kuhl, D., Poulson, J., Baldwin, K., & Mount, B.M. (1997). Well-being at the End of Life. Part 1. A Research Agenda for Psychosocial and Spiritual Aspects of Care From the Patient’s Perspective. Cancer Prevention and Control, 1, 334-342. Link Here

Cohen, S.R., Mount, B.M., Bruera, E., Provost, M., Rowe, J., & Tong, K. (1997). Validity of the McGill Quality of Life Questionnaire in the Palliative Care Setting. A Multi-center Canadian Study Demonstrating the Importance of the Existential Domain. Palliative Medicine, 11, 3-20. Link Here

Cohen, S.R., Hassan, S.A., Lapointe, B.J., & Mount, B.M. (1996). Quality of Life in HIV Disease as Measured by the McGill Quality of Life Questionnaire. AIDS, 10(2), 1421-1427. Link Here

Cohen, S.R., Mount, B.M., Tomas, J.J., & Mount, L.F. (1996). Existential Well-being is an Important Determinant of Quality of Life: Evidence From the McGill Quality of Life Questionnaire. Cancer, 77, 576-586. Link Here

Boisvert, M., & Cohen, S.R. (1995). Opioid Use in Advanced Malignant Disease: Why Do Different Centers Use Vastly Different Doses? A Plea for Standardized Reporting. Journal of Pain and Symptom Management, 10(8), 632-638. Link Here

Cohen, S.R., Mount, B.M., Strobel, M.G., & Bui, F. (1995). The McGill Quality of Life Questionnaire: A Measure of Quality of Life Appropriate for People with Advanced Disease. A Preliminary Study of Validity and Acceptability. Palliative Medicine, 9, 207-219. Link Here

Cohen, S.R., Steiner, W., & Mount, B.M. (1994). Phototherapy in the Treatment of Depression in the Terminally Ill. Journal of Pain and Symptom Management, 9(8), 534-536. Link Here

Cohen, S.R., & Melzack, R. (1993). The Habenula and Pain: Repeated Electrical Stimulation Potentiates Analgesia While Lesions are Without Effect on Formalin Pain or Morphine Analgesia. Behavioral Brain Research, 54, 171-178. Link Here

Cohen, S.R., Kimes, A.S., & London, E.D. (1991). Morphine Decreases Cerebral Glucose Utilization in Limbic and Forebrain Regions While Pain Has No Effect. Neuropharmacology, 30, 125-134. Link Here

Cohen, S.R., & Melzack, R. (1986). Habenular Stimulation Produces Analgesia In the Formalin Test. Neuroscience Letters, 70, 165-169. Link Here

Cohen, S.R., & Melzack, R. (1985). Morphine Injected Into the Habenula and Dorsal Posteromedial Thalamus Produces Analgesia in the Formalin Test. Brain Research, 359, 131-139. Link Here

Cohen, S.R., Abbott, F.V., & Melzack, R. (1984). Unilateral Analgesia Produced by Intraventricular Morphine. Brain Research, 303, 277-287. Link Here


Reviews, book chapters, books

Cohen, S.R. (in press). Quality of life assessment in palliative care. In E. Bruera, I. Higginson, C. von Gunten, & C. Ripamonti (Eds.) Palliative Medicine. London, England: Edward Arnold Limited.

Nikoletti, S., & Cohen, S.R. (2004). Quality of Life and the Cancer Journey. In D. Porock & D. Palmer (Eds.), Cancer of the Gastrointestinal Tract: A Handbook for Nurse Practitioners (pp. 1-38). London, England: Whurr Publishers Limited.

Cohen, S.R. (2003). Assessing Quality of Life in the Terminally Ill. In R.K. Portenoy & E. Bruera (Eds.), Issues in Palliative Care Research (pp. 231-242). New York: Oxford University Press.

Cohen, S.R. (2001). The McGill Quality of Life Questionnaire. In J. Maltby, C.A. Lewis & A.P. Hill (Eds.), Commissioned Reviews on 300 Psychological Tests (pp. 590-594). Lampeter, Wales: Edwin Mellen Press.

Cohen, S.R. (2001). Defining and Measuring Quality of Life in Palliative Care. In E. Bruera & R.K. Portenoy (Eds.), Topics in Palliative Care (Vol. 5, pp. 137-156). New York: Oxford University Press.

Mount, B.M., & Cohen, S.R. (1997). Quality of Life in the Face of Life-threatening Illness. In S. Strack (Ed.), Death and the Quest for Meaning (pp. 137-152). New Jersey: Jason Aronson Inc.

Invited book chapter under editorial review

Cohen, S.R. Quality of life assessment in palliative care. In E. Bruera, I. Higginson, C. von Gunten & C. Ripamonti (Eds.), Palliative Medicine. London, England: Edward Arnold Limited.

Government reports

Cohen, S.R., Frisch, S., Deschamps, M., Penrod, J., Plante, H., Bellavance, M., & Lauzon, N. (April 2001). Evaluation of the MUHC-CLSC project to develop an integrated continuum of palliative care services. Ottawa, ON: Health Canada Health Policy and Communications Branch.