SUMMARY
Minji K. Lee, Ph.D., M.S., is a measurement scientist interested in quality of life in cancer patients. Her research interests are item response theory, latent variable models, patient-reported outcome (PRO) measures, and the design and analyses of cancer clinical trials. The value of PRO measures in clinical research and health care delivery depends on the extent to which patients and clinicians can interpret scores. Her research on measurement properties and measurement bias facilitate the valid use of PRO measures.
Dr. Lee's current work focuses on defining thresholds in PROs to interpret severity of symptoms and meaningful changes. Her other work involves financial toxicity and social determinants of health in cancer patients. She serves as the lead faculty statistician for the Symptom Intervention and Cancer in the Older Adult Committees of the National Cancer Institute's Community Oncology Research Program.
Focus areas
- Clinical trial designs
- Quality of life
- Symptom management and intervention
- Financial toxicity and social determinants of health
Significance to patient care
Measures of PRO are used to direct patient care, guide intervention and even automatically alert care teams in remote monitoring settings. Dr. Lee's research helps appropriately identify patients who would benefit from intervention.