faculty profile

Bethany Andrews Rhoten PhD, RN

Assistant Professor

Bio

Dr. Rhoten's program of research focuses on improving the lives of people after treatment for cancer, specifically in the areas of body image and sexuality. She received her nursing degree and PhD from Vanderbilt University where she also completed a postdoctoral fellowship. Dr. Rhoten's current work focuses on pilot testing of the Body Image after Head and Neck Cancer Treatment (BIHNC) Program, and she is Co-Principal Investigator of OUT: The National Cancer Survey. Dr. Rhoten also serves as a qualitative methods and survey development consultant on several other studies. She lives in Hermitage, Tennessee with her husband and four children.

Education

Postdoctoral Fellowship, Vanderbilt University School of Nursing (Oncology Nursing Research)
PhD, Vanderbilt University School of Nursing
MSN, Vanderbilt University School of Nursing (Acute Care NP)
BS, The University of Tennessee at Chattanooga

Certifications

Registered Nurse

Current Research/Scholarly Interests

Dr. Rhoten is an expert in head and neck cancer-related body image and sexuality issues. Her other research interests include cancer survivorship, psychosocial implications of chronic illness and trauma, and LGBTQ+ health.

Academic Interests

Dr. Rhoten's teaching experience and expertise include conceptual foundations for health research, survey design and methodology, utilizing informatics for scholarly inquiry, and health policy.

Current Projects

OUT! The National Cancer Survey. (Co-PI)
Pilot testing of the Body Image after Head and Neck Cancer Treatment (BIHNC) Program. (PI)
Clinically relevant cutoff points and severity ranges for the IMAGE-HN as a novel diagnostic strategy for head and neck cancer-related body image disturbance. (Vanderbilt Site PI)
Integrating Internet-Based Self-Management in Physical Therapy for Chronic Spine Pain (Qualitative Methods Consultant)

Grants

OUT: The National Cancer Survey. Bristol Myers Squibb Foundation (Role: Co-PI) 2020-2021

Development and Pilot Testing of a Web-Based Intervention to Increase Coping Strategies for Navigating Body Image and Sexuality Concerns in Patients with Head and Neck Cancer. Vanderbilt Institute for Clinical and Translational Research (Role: PI) 2019-2021

Head and Neck Cancer and Sexuality: Patient Priorities, Preferences, and Existing Self-Report Measures. American Cancer Society Institutional Research Grant (Role: PI) 2017-2018.

A Patient-Centered Outcomes Study of Patient with Recurrent Head and Neck Cancer: Patient Priorities, Treatment Decision, Symptom Burden, Body Image, & Sexuality. Funded by the Vanderbilt Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Career Knowledge, Education and Training Program. K12 through Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. (Role: Trainee) 2014-2017

A Qualitative Examination of Sexual Function and Satisfaction with Sexual Activity after Head and Neck Cancer Treatment. Vanderbilt Institute for Clinical and Translational Research. (Role: PI). 2013-2014

Body Image and Functional Status in Head and Neck Cancer Patients. American Cancer Society. Doctoral Scholarship in Cancer Nursing. (Role: PI) 2012-2013

Representative Publications

Journals

Bonomo P, Maruelli A, Saieva C, Taylor K, Singer S, Patelli Z, Rogers S, Mattavelli D, Simon C, Scott� F, de Oliveira TB, Murphy B, Rhoten BA, Tassini U, Fallon M, Gatidis ON, Yarom N, Bergamini C, Bossi P. Assessing Preferences in Patients with Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma: Phase I and II of Questionnaire Development. Cancers (Basel). 2020 Nov 30;12(12):3577. doi: 10.3390/cancers12123577. PMID: 33266011; PMCID: PMC7760305.

Gibson JS, Ridner SH, Dietrich MS, Sohn MB, Rhoten BA, Claassen DO. Measuring Functional Status in Huntington's Disease. Mov Disord. 2020 Oct 27. doi: 10.1002/mds.28363. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 33108688

Akard TF, Dietrich MS, Friedman DL, Wray S, Gerhardt CA, Hendricks-Ferguson V, Hinds PS, Rhoten B, Gilmer MJ. Randomized Clinical Trial of a Legacy Intervention for Quality of Life in Children with Advanced Cancer. J Palliat Med. 2020 Sep 30. doi: 10.1089/jpm.2020.0139. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 32996842.

Natavio T, McQuillen E, Dietrich MS, Wells N, Rhoten BA, Vallerand AH, Monroe TB. A Comparison of the Pain Assessment Checklist for Seniors with Limited Ability to Communicate (PACSLAC) and Pain Assessment in Advanced Dementia Scale (PAINAD). Pain Manag Nurs. 2020 Dec;21(6):502-509. doi: 10.1016/j.pmn.2020.04.001. Epub 2020 May 29. PMID: 32475696.

Rhoten BA, Davis AJ, Baraff BN, Holler KH, Dietrich MS. Priorities and Preferences of Patients With Head and Neck Cancer for Discussing and Receiving Information About Sexuality and Perception of Self-Report Measures. J Sex Med. 2020 Aug;17(8):1529-1537. doi: 10.1016/j.jsxm.2020.04.001. Epub 2020 May 13. PMID: 32417203; PMCID: PMC7664992.

Rhoten BA, Sellers JI, Baraff B, Holler KH, Ridner SH. A qualitative examination of patient priorities and preferences during treatment decision-making for recurrent head and neck cancer. Support Care Cancer. 2021 Jan;29(1):377-385. doi: 10.1007/s00520-020-05488-9. Epub 2020 May 6. PMID: 32377842; PMCID: PMC7644586.

Doersam JK, Dietrich MS, Adair MA, Rhoten B, Deng J, Ridner SH. A Comparison of Symptoms Among Patients with Head and Neck or Truncal Lymphedema and Normal Controls. Lymphat Res Biol. 2019 Dec;17(6):661-670. doi: 10.1089/lrb.2019.0034. Epub 2019 Aug 5. PMID: 31381475; PMCID: PMC6919259.

Abanes J, Hiers C, Rhoten B, Dietrich MS, Ridner SH. Feasibility and Acceptability of a Brief Acupuncture Intervention for Service Members with Perceived Stress. Mil Med. 2020 Feb 13;185(1-2):e17-e22. doi: 10.1093/milmed/usz132. PMID: 31247110.

Ridner SH, Rhoten BA, Niermann KJ, Murphy BA, Dietrich MS. Vanderbilt head and neck symptom survey, version 2.0: Clinical and research utility for identification of symptom clusters and changes in symptoms over time. Oral Oncol. 2018 Aug;83:25-31. doi: 10.1016/j.oraloncology.2018.05.024. Epub 2018 Jun 9. PMID: 30098775.

Rhoten BA, Murphy BA, Dietrich MS, Ridner SH. Depressive symptoms, social anxiety, and perceived neck function in patients with head and neck cancer. Head Neck. 2018 Jul;40(7):1443-1452. doi: 10.1002/hed.25129. Epub 2018 Mar 23. PMID: 29573016; PMCID: PMC6037559.

Aulino JM, Wulff-Burchfield EM, Dietrich MS, Ridner SH, Niermann KJ, Deng J, Rhoten BA, Doersam JK, Jarrett LA, Mannion K, Murphy BA. Evaluation of CT Changes in the Head and Neck After Cancer Treatment: Development of a Measurement Tool. Lymphat Res Biol. 2018 Feb;16(1):69-74. doi: 10.1089/lrb.2017.0024. PMID: 29432066; PMCID: PMC5810430.

Rhoten BA. Conceptual Issues Surrounding Body Image for Oncology Nurses. Oncol Nurs Forum. 2017 Sep 1;44(5):534-536. doi: 10.1188/17.ONF.534-536. PMID: 28820509.

Ridner SH, Rhoten BA, Radina ME, Adair M, Bush-Foster S, Sinclair V. Breast cancer survivors' perspectives of critical lymphedema self-care support needs. Support Care Cancer. 2016 Jun;24(6):2743-50. doi: 10.1007/s00520-016-3089-2. Epub 2016 Jan 26. PMID: 26810422.

Rhoten BA. Body image disturbance in adults treated for cancer - a concept analysis. J Adv Nurs. 2016 May;72(5):1001-11. doi: 10.1111/jan.12892. Epub 2016 Jan 8. PMID: 26748811.

Rhoten BA. Head and Neck Cancer and Sexuality: A Review of the Literature. Cancer Nurs. 2016 Jul-Aug;39(4):313-20. doi: 10.1097/NCC.0000000000000289. PMID: 26252435.

Books

Rhoten BA. Theoretical Foundations of Body Image. In Fingeret M & Teo I (Eds.) Body Image Care for Cancer Patients. Oxford: Oxford University Press. 2018

Ridner S, Deng J, Rhoten BA. Adherence and Quality of Life. In Lee B, Rockson S, Bergan J (Eds.) Lymphedema: A Concise Compendium of Theory and Practice, 2nd edition. London: Springer. 2018

Representative Presentations

Rhoten BA, Dietrich MS, Karp S, Lutenbacher M, Maxwell C, Ridner SH, Schirle L, Stolldorf D, Weiner B. PhD Candidacy Exam Evaluation and Modification at a Research-Intensive University School of Nursing. American Association of Colleges of Nursing Doctoral Conference. Naples, FL. 2020

Rhoten BA, Davis A. Head and Neck Cancer Survivors? Perceptions of Self-Report Measures used to Assess Sexuality. 20th Annual Fall Scientific Meeting of Sexual Medicine Society of North America. Nashville, TN. 2019

Rhoten BA. Head and Neck Cancer Patient Priorities and Preferences for Discussing and Receiving Information about Sexuality from Healthcare Professionals. Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer / International Society of Oral Oncology Annual Meeting on Supportive Care in Cancer. San Francisco, CA. 2019

Rhoten BA. Body Image and Sexuality Research in Head and Neck Cancer. Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer / International Society of Oral Oncology Annual Meeting on Supportive Care in Cancer. San Francisco, CA. 2019

Rhoten BA. Body image and sexuality in patients with head and neck cancer: lessons learned from a preliminary program of research. International Conference on Nursing Science and Practice. Dallas, TX. 2017

Rhoten BA. Patient centered outcomes research. Southern Nursing Research Society Annual Conference. Dallas, TX. 2017

Rhoten BA, Sellers J, Charron E, Ridner S. Supporting patients with a diagnosis of recurrent head and neck cancer: patient-centered information for oncology nurse clinicians. Oncology Nursing Society 41st Annual Congress. San Antonio, TX. 2016

Rhoten BA. Body image and sexuality concerns of patients with recurrent head and neck cancer. International Conference on Cancer Nursing. Hong Kong, China. 2016

Rhoten BA. Recurrent head and neck cancer: patient decision-making. International Conference on Cancer Nursing. Hong Kong, China. 2016

Rhoten BA. Lymphedema and sexuality. The National Lymphedema Network International Conference. Dallas, TX. 2016

Reviewer

Manuscript reviewer for Journal of Advanced Nursing, Cancer, Head and Neck, Psycho-Oncology, European Journal of Cancer Care, Journal of Supportive Care in Cancer, Nursing Inquiry, Journal of Women's Health, Body Image, Journal of Family Issues.

Abstract reviewer for International Conference on Cancer Nursing, National Lymphedema Network, Oncology Nursing Society

Mentor

Students interested in psychosocial implications of cancer/disfigurement/trauma.
Students interested in chronic diseases and sexuality.

Professional Organizations

American Nurses Association
Tennessee Nurses Association
Oncology Nursing Society
International Society of Nurses in Cancer Care
Multinational Association of Supportive Care in Cancer
International Society of Oral Oncology
Junior League of Nashville

Honors/Awards

Valere Potter Distinguished Dean's Faculty Fellow, VUSN, 2018-2020
Sexual Tipping Point Mental Health Award, Sexual Medicine Society of North America & The MAP Education & Research Foundation, 2019
Dean Colleen Conway-Welch Teaching Award, VUSN, 2018
Research Nurse of the Year, March of Dimes, 2018
American Nurse's Advocacy Institute Fellow, American Nurses Association, 2014
Dean's Award for Excellence in Writing, VUSN, 2013
Graduate Student Nurse of the Year, March of Dimes, 2012