Heather Kilgour is a Research Nurse with the Nursing and Allied Health Research and Knowledge Translation department. Heather’s research focuses on understanding how to better support oncology nurses to engage in advanced care planning conversations in BC’s cancer care system.

In her role as Research Nurse, Heather hopes to work with direct care nurses to identify opportunities for improving clinical practice and patient and family-centered care through nursing-led research and knowledge translation. Heather’s goal is to use nursing interventions to improve patient experience and outcomes, and advance oncology nursing excellence.

Awards:

  • Oncology Student Research Award, April 2023 - Canadian Association of Nurses in Oncology. 
  • Grace Shane Bursary, January 2023 - Order of the Eastern Star
  • Jennifer Kryworuchko Memorial Scholarship in Nursing, August 2022 - UBC
  • Nursing Research Fellowship, August 2022 - BC Cancer Foundation
  • Merck Canada Masters Award, June 2022 - CNF
  • Beverly Douglas Memorial Bursary, November 2021 - RNFBC
  • Stephen Berg Oncology Nursing Education and Research Endowment Fund, August 2021 - BC Cancer
Credentials

Masters of Science in Nursing, University of British Columbia, 2023

Bachelors of Science in Nursing, McMaster University, 2017

Projects

Understanding How to Better Support Oncology Nurses in Conducting Advanced Care Planning in BC’s Cancer Care System

Advanced Care Planning (ACP) is a process where patients reflect on what matters most to them and determine who may make decisions for them should they be unable to speak for themselves. Components of ACP may include reflecting on personal values and beliefs; naming a substitute decision maker; sharing preferences about goals of care with family, friends, or healthcare workers; and recording personal wishes via documents such as an advanced directive.

Pilot Study Using an Online Patient-Reported Outcome Measures Portal to Optimize Breast Cancer Follow-up Care

Most breast cancer cells (70-75%) have estrogen and/or progesterone receptors, and can be treated with 5-10 years of anti-hormonal therapy to prevent breast cancer from growing. However, many breast cancer patients (40-50%) do not take their recommended daily anti-hormonal therapy, which could potentially increase their risk of dying by 49%. Main reasons women do not take anti-hormonal medications are unpleasant side effects and lack of access to effective follow-up care. To better support women, the After Breast Cancer (ABC) clinic was created by BC Cancer and BC Women’s Hospital.

Selected Publications

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