Carol Estwing Ferrans, PhD, RN, FAAN
Professor of Nursing
Dr. Ferrans has been conducting studies focusing on quality of life and minority issues in health care over the past 20 years, funded by the National Cancer Institute and the National Institute for Nursing Research. She is well known for developing the Ferrans and Powers Quality of Life Index, which has been translated into 21 languages and has been used throughout the world in more than 200 published studies. In addition, she has contributed to the conceptual development of the field of quality of life research, through her conceptual work focused on clarification of the construct. Dr. Ferrans has received a number of awards for her work, and has been recognized as a Distinguished Research Fellow by the International Society for Quality of Life Studies (ISQOLS).
Dr. Ferrans maintains an active program of research, studying the effects of illness and treatment on quality of life in cancer, cardiac disease, and other chronic illnesses. An important part of this research has focused on cross-cultural issues, including approaches to increase validity of data and participation in research for minority populations in the United States. This has included the development of culturally specific measures for African Americans and Hispanic Americans.
Dr. Ferrans currently is the principal investigator for two large (R01) studies funded by NCI. One study examines cancer survivorship issues for African Americans, focusing on the impact on quality of life and barriers to cancer screening. The second study focuses on breast cancer delay in black, Hispanic and white women. In addition, she is the mentor for NIH- and ACS-funded postdoctoral and career-development awards, studying the effect of trust and cancer screening in African American women, prostate cancer screening in African American men, and the effect of trust in health care decision making in African American caregivers of older adults.
Research Interests
Quality of life and disparities in health care in cancer; cancer survivorship issues for African Americans, focusing on the impact on quality of life and barriers to cancer screening; reasons for delay in seeking diagnosis for suspicious breast symptoms; cross-cultural assessment of quality of life, including approaches to increasing data validity and research participation for minority populations in the United States
Recent and Noteworthy Publications
Bonner G, Ferrans C, Moore-Burke E, Gorelick P. Determinants of trust and mistrust in physicians as identified by African American family caregivers. Afr Am Res Perspect. 2005;11:89-102.
Ferrans C, Zerwic J, Wilbur J, Larson J. Conceptual model of health-related quality of life. J Nurs Scholarsh. 2005;37(4):336-342.
Guyatt GH, Ferrans CE, Halyard MY, Revicki DA, Symonds TL, Varricchio CG, Kotzeva A, Valderas JM, Alonso JL. Exploration of the value of health-related quality-of-life information from clinical research and into clinical practice. Mayo Clin Proc. 2007; 82(10):1229-1239.
Hacker ED, Ferrans CE. Ecological momentary assessment of fatigue in patients receiving intensive cancer therapy. J Pain Symptom Manage. 2007 Mar;33(3):267-75.
Hacker E, Ferrans C, Verlen E, Ravandi F, van Besien K, Gelms J, Dieterle N. Fatigue and physical activity in patients receiving hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Oncol Nurs Forum. 2006;33(3):614-624.
Hsiung Y, Ferrans C. Recognizing Chinese Americans cultural needs in making end-of-life treatment decisions. J Hosp Palliat Nurs. 2007;9(3): 132-140.
Jacobs EA, Rolle I, Ferrans CE, Whitaker EE, Warnecke RB. Understanding African Americans' views of the trustworthiness of physicians. J Gen Intern Med. 2006 Jun;21(6):642-7.
Jarvis CM, Hayman LL, Braun LT, Schwertz DW, Ferrans CE, Piano MR. Cardiovascular risk factors and metabolic syndrome in alcohol- and nicotine-dependent men and women. J Cardiovasc Nurs. 2007 Nov-Dec;22(6):429-35.
Kang HS, Ferrans CE, Kim MJ, Kim JI, Lee EO. Aquatic exercise in older Korean women with arthritis: identifying barriers to and facilitators of long-term adherence. J Gerontol Nurs. 2007 Jul;33(7):48-56
Penckofer S, Ferrans CE, Velsor-Friedrich B, Savoy S. The psychological impact of living with diabetes: women's day-to-day experiences. Diabetes Educ. 2007 Jul-Aug;33(4):680-90.
Penckofer S, Ferrans C, Fink N, Barrett M, Holm K. Quality of life in women following coronary artery bypass graft surgery. Nurs Sci Q. 2005;18(2):176-183.
Sloan J, Frost M, Berzon R, Dueck A, Guyatt G, Moinpour C, Sprangers M, Ferrans C, Cella D. Clinical significance of quality of life assessments in oncology: a summary for clinicians. Support Care Cancer. 2006;14(10):988-998.
Teschendorf B, Schwartz C, Ferrans CE, O'Mara A, Novotny P, Sloan J. Caregiver role stress: when families become providers. Cancer Control. 2007 Apr;14(2):183-9.
Valderas, JM; Kotzeva, A; Espallargues, M, Guyatt G, Ferrans CE, Halyard MY, Revicki DA, Symonds T, Parada A, Alonso J. The impact of measuring patient-reported outcomes in clinical practice: a systematic review of the literature. Qual Life Res. 2008 Mar;17(2):179-193.
Honors and Awards
Distinguished Alumni Award, UIC, College of Nursing
Award for Distinguished Contributions to Research, Midwest Nursing Research Society
Distinguished Research Fellow, International Society for Quality of Life Studies
Fellow, American Academy of Nursing
Contact Info
Department of Medical Surgical Nursing
University of Illinois at Chicago (MC 802)
702 College of Nursing
845 S. Damen Ave.
Chicago, IL 60612
Other Title(s)
Deputy Director, Center for Population Health and Health Disparities
Associate Dean for Research, College of Nursing
Personal Website
IHRP Affiliation(s)
Current IHRP Research Studies (PI)
Current IHRP Research Studies (Co-I)
Other Research (Non-IHRP)
Advanced Care Treatment Plans (ACT-Plan) for African American Family Caregivers;
Cognitive Testing of the Computerized PAINReportIt Program in Adult African-Americans, Hispanic Americans, and European Americans;
Diagnostic Delays Among Underserved Women with Suspicious Breast Findings;
GO EARLY: Promoting Mammography Use Among Korean American Women;
Interactive Cancer Screening Education for South Asians;
Mammography Promotion Intervention for Korean-American Immigrant Women;
Quality of Life of African American Cancer Survivors;
Reducing Disparities in Underserved Populations
Recently Completed Research
Black Caregivers of Older Adults: Trust and Health Care