Overview
Background
Dr Abbey Diaz is a Faculty of Medicine Research Fellow and epidemiologist in the FNCWR team. Her program of work is broadly concerned with the quality and equity of cancer care pathways, particularly for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and for people with, or at risk of, other chronic disease.
Recently, Abbey was part of an investigator team (CID; 2021-2024) awarded a $1 million National Heart Foundation Strategic Grant in Cardio-oncology. Through its work, the team aims to:
- Better understand the risk of adverse cardiovascular events in Australians diagnosed with cancer
- Identify potential high-risk groups and health service gaps
- Understand how cancer treatment decision-making by patients and their health professionals are influenced by their cardiovascular risk.
- Co-design and assess educational resources for patients and health professionals to improve care and outcomes for cancer patients at risk of adverse cardiovascular outcomes.
Abbey is also an investigator on an ARC-funded grant to develop a measure supportive care needs of carers of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people with cancer (CIJ), a World Cancer Research Fund (WCRF) funded grant to pilot an intervention to support cancer patients to reduce exposure to behavioural risk factors (CID), and an MRFF grant to co-design and feasibility test a phase III exercise trial for women with metastatic breast cancer (AI). She led the Queensland Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Better Cardiac Care Linkage Study, commissioned by the Queensland Health department, and was an investigator on a Cancer Australia and Department of Health tender to better understand how information on Indigenous status is collected, recorded, reported at all stages of the National Cervical Screening Program.
Abbey's PhD thesis investigated whether the higher comorbidity among Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people with cancer was associated with lower cancer survival and supportive care needs. Her thesis was undertaken and completed while she was part of the National Indigenous Cervical Screening Project, with her PhD (Charles Darwin University/Menzies School of Health research) awarded in 2018.
Availability
- Dr Abbey Diaz is:
- Available for supervision
Works
Search Professor Abbey Diaz’s works on UQ eSpace
2021
Journal Article
Wellbeing of Indigenous peoples in Canada, Aotearoa (New Zealand) and the United States: a systematic review
Gall, Alana, Anderson, Kate, Howard, Kirsten, Diaz, Abbey, King, Alexandra, Willing, Esther, Connolly, Michele, Lindsay, Daniel and Garvey, Gail (2021). Wellbeing of Indigenous peoples in Canada, Aotearoa (New Zealand) and the United States: a systematic review. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18 (11) 5832, 1-31. doi: 10.3390/ijerph18115832
2021
Journal Article
A Systematic Review of Fear of Cancer Recurrence Among Indigenous and Minority Peoples
Anderson, Kate, Smith, Allan ‘Ben', Diaz, Abbey, Shaw, Joanne, Butow, Phyllis, Sharpe, Louise, Girgis, Afaf, Lebel, Sophie, Dhillon, Haryana, Burhansstipanov, Linda, Tighe, Boden and Garvey, Gail (2021). A Systematic Review of Fear of Cancer Recurrence Among Indigenous and Minority Peoples. Frontiers in Psychology, 12 621850, 621850. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2021.621850
2021
Journal Article
Investigating inequities in cardiovascular care and outcomes for Queensland Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people: protocol for a hospital-based retrospective cohort data linkage project
Kearns, Therese, Diaz, Abbey, Whop, Lisa J., Moore, Suzanne P., Condon, John R., Andrews, Ross M., Katzenellenbogen, Judith M., Matthews, Veronica, Wang, William, Johnston, Trisha, Taylor, Catherine, Potts, Boyd, Kathage, Alex, Suleman, Abdulla, Stanley, Lucy, Mitchell, Louise, Garvey, Gail and Williamson, Daniel (2021). Investigating inequities in cardiovascular care and outcomes for Queensland Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people: protocol for a hospital-based retrospective cohort data linkage project. BMJ Open, 11 (3) e043304, e043304. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2020-043304
2021
Journal Article
Accessibility of cancer treatment services for Indigenous Australians in the Northern Territory: perspectives of patients and care providers
Anderson, Kate, Diaz, Abbey, Parikh, Darshit Rajeshkumar and Garvey, Gail (2021). Accessibility of cancer treatment services for Indigenous Australians in the Northern Territory: perspectives of patients and care providers. BMC Health Services Research, 21 (1) 95, 95. doi: 10.1186/s12913-021-06066-3
2020
Journal Article
Health behaviours of Indigenous and non-Indigenous cancer survivors living in regional and remote geographic areas of Australia: a short report
Elder-Robinson, Elaina C., Parikh, Darshit Rajeshkumar, Diaz, Abbey, Ferguson, Megan M., Reeves, Marina M. and Garvey, Gail (2020). Health behaviours of Indigenous and non-Indigenous cancer survivors living in regional and remote geographic areas of Australia: a short report. Journal of Psychosocial Oncology Research and Practice, 2 (4) e039, e039. doi: 10.1097/or9.0000000000000039
2020
Journal Article
Collection and reporting of indigenous status information in cancer registries around the world
Diaz, Abbey, Soerjomataram, Isabelle, Moore, Suzanne, Whop, Lisa J., Bray, Freddie, Hoberg, Hana and Garvey, Gail (2020). Collection and reporting of indigenous status information in cancer registries around the world. Journal of Global Oncology, 2020 (6), 133-142. doi: 10.1200/JGO.19.00119
2020
Journal Article
Nexus of cancer and cardiovascular disease for Australia's first peoples
Diaz, Abbey, Sverdlov, Aaron L., Kelly, Brian, Ngo, Doan T.M., Bates, Nicole and Garvey, Gail (2020). Nexus of cancer and cardiovascular disease for Australia's first peoples. Journal of Global Oncology, 2020 (6), 115-119. doi: 10.1200/JGO.19.00088
2019
Journal Article
Service level factors associated with cervical screening in aboriginal and torres strait islander primary health care centres in Australia
Diaz, Abbey, Vo, Brenda, Baade, Peter D., Matthews, Veronica, Nattabi, Barbara, Bailie, Jodie, Whop, Lisa J., Bailie, Ross and Garvey, Gail (2019). Service level factors associated with cervical screening in aboriginal and torres strait islander primary health care centres in Australia. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 16 (19) 3630, 3630. doi: 10.3390/ijerph16193630
2019
Journal Article
Exploring traditional and complementary medicine use by Indigenous Australian women undergoing gynaecological cancer investigations
Gall, A., Anderson, K., Diaz, A., Matthews, V., Adams, J., Taylor, T. and Garvey, G. (2019). Exploring traditional and complementary medicine use by Indigenous Australian women undergoing gynaecological cancer investigations. Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice, 36, 88-93. doi: 10.1016/j.ctcp.2019.06.005
2019
Journal Article
Aboriginal women have a higher risk of cervical abnormalities at screening; South Australia, 1993-2016
Li, Ming, Roder, David, Whop, Lisa J., Diaz, Abbey, Baade, Peter D., Brotherton, Julia M. L., Canfell, Karen, Cunningham, Joan, Garvey, Gail, Moore, Suzanne P., O'Connell, Dianne L., Valery, Patricia C. and Condon, John R. (2019). Aboriginal women have a higher risk of cervical abnormalities at screening; South Australia, 1993-2016. Journal of Medical Screening, 26 (2), 104-112. doi: 10.1177/0969141318810719
2019
Journal Article
Unmet supportive care needs among Indigenous cancer patients across Australia
Bernardes, Christina M., Diaz, Abbey, Valery, Patricia C., Sabesan, Sabe, Baxi, Siddhartha, Aoun, Samar, Thompson, Sandra C., Lashbrook, Mari and Garvey, Gail (2019). Unmet supportive care needs among Indigenous cancer patients across Australia. Rural and Remote Health, 19 (3) 4660, 1-11. doi: 10.22605/RRH4660
2018
Journal Article
Spatial variation in cervical cancer screening participation and outcomes among Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians in Queensland: cervical screening spatial variation
Dasgupta, Paramita, Whop, Lisa J., Diaz, Abbey, Cramb, Susanna M., Moore, Suzanne P., Brotherton, Julia M. L., Cunningham, Joan, Valery, Patricia C., Gertig, Dorota, Garvey, Gail, Condon, John R., O'Connell, Dianne L., Canfell, Karen and Baade, Peter D. (2018). Spatial variation in cervical cancer screening participation and outcomes among Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians in Queensland: cervical screening spatial variation. Geographical Research, 57 (1), 111-122. doi: 10.1111/1745-5871.12281
2018
Journal Article
Comorbidity and cervical cancer survival of Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australian women: a semi-national registry-based cohort study (2003-2012)
Diaz, Abbey, Baade, Peter D., Valery, Patricia C., Whop, Lisa J., Moore, Suzanne P., Cunningham, Joan, Garvey, Gail, Brotherton, Julia M. L., O'Connell, Dianne L., Canfell, Karen, Sarfati, Diana, Roder, David, Buckley, Elizabeth and Condon, John R. (2018). Comorbidity and cervical cancer survival of Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australian women: a semi-national registry-based cohort study (2003-2012). PLoS One, 13 (5) e0196764, e0196764. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0196764
2018
Journal Article
Educational programmes for primary prevention of skin cancer
Langbecker, Danette, Diaz, Abbey, Chan, Raymond J., Marquart, Louise, Hevey, David and Hamilton, Janelle (2018). Educational programmes for primary prevention of skin cancer. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 2018 (3) CD011061, 1-4. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD011061.pub2
2017
Journal Article
Association between comorbidity and participation in breast and cervical cancer screening: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Diaz, Abbey, Kang, Jimin, Moore, Suzanne P., Baade, Peter, Langbecker, Danette, Condon, John R. and Valery, Patricia C. (2017). Association between comorbidity and participation in breast and cervical cancer screening: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Cancer Epidemiology, 47, 7-19. doi: 10.1016/j.canep.2016.12.010
2017
Journal Article
Time to clinical investigation for indigenous and non-indigenous queensland women after a high grade abnormal pap smear, 2000-2009
Whop, Lisa J., Baade, Peter D., Brotherton, Julia M. L., Canfell, Karen, Cunningham, Joan, Gertig, Dorota, Lokuge, Kamalini, Garvey, Gail, Moore, Suzanne P., Diaz, Abbey, O’Connell, Dianne L., Valery, Patricia, Roder, David M. and Condon, John R. (2017). Time to clinical investigation for indigenous and non-indigenous queensland women after a high grade abnormal pap smear, 2000-2009. Medical Journal of Australia, 206 (2), 73-77. doi: 10.5694/mja16.00255
2016
Journal Article
Australian Indigenous cancer patients’ self-report of diagnosis, treatment and comorbidity data: how does it compare to medical chart review
Maresch Bernardes, Christina, Diaz, Abbey, Baade, Peter, Garvey, Gail and Valery, Patricia Casarolli (2016). Australian Indigenous cancer patients’ self-report of diagnosis, treatment and comorbidity data: how does it compare to medical chart review. European Journal for Person Centered Healthcare, 4 (2), 330-339. doi: 10.5750/ejpch.v4i2.1093
2016
Journal Article
The first comprehensive report on Indigenous Australian women's inequalities in cervical screening: a retrospective registry cohort study in Queensland, Australia (2000-2011)
Whop, Lisa J., Garvey, Gail, Baade, Peter, Cunningham, Joan, Lokuge, Kamalini, Brotherton, Julia M. L., Valery, Patricia C., O'Connell, Dianne L., Canfell, Karen, Diaz, Abbey, Roder, David, Gertig, Dorota, Moore, Suzanne P. and Condon, John R. (2016). The first comprehensive report on Indigenous Australian women's inequalities in cervical screening: a retrospective registry cohort study in Queensland, Australia (2000-2011). Cancer, 122 (10), 1560-1569. doi: 10.1002/cncr.29954
2016
Journal Article
Cervical abnormalities are more common among Indigenous than other Australian women: a retrospective record-linkage study, 2000-2011
Whop, Lisa J., Baade, Peter, Garvey, Gail, Cunningham, Joan, Brotherton, Julia M. L., Lokuge, Kamalini, Valery, Patricia C., O'Connell, Dianne L., Canfell, Karen, Diaz, Abbey, Roder, David, Gertig, Dorota M., Moore, Suzanne P. and Condon, John R. (2016). Cervical abnormalities are more common among Indigenous than other Australian women: a retrospective record-linkage study, 2000-2011. PLoS ONE, 11 (4) e0150473. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0150473
2016
Journal Article
Supportive care needs among Indigenous cancer patients in Queensland, Australia: less comorbidity is associated with greater practical and cultural unmet need
Diaz, A., Bernardes, C. M., Garvey, G. and Valery, P. C. (2016). Supportive care needs among Indigenous cancer patients in Queensland, Australia: less comorbidity is associated with greater practical and cultural unmet need. European Journal of Cancer Care, 25 (2), 242-253. doi: 10.1111/ecc.12471
Funding
Current funding
Past funding
Supervision
Availability
- Dr Abbey Diaz is:
- Available for supervision
Looking for a supervisor? Read our advice on how to choose a supervisor.
Available projects
-
Using big data to identify high risk population groups and service gaps in cardiovascular care in Australians diagnosed with cancer (Epidemiology).
This is a new project, for which we will be looking for HDR students in 2022.
Please contact me for more information.
Supervision history
Current supervision
-
Doctor Philosophy
Incidence and risk assessment of cardiovascular disease after breast cancer in Australia
Principal Advisor
Other advisors: Dr Louise Wilson, Professor Gail Garvey, Dr Tracey Di Sipio
Media
Enquiries
For media enquiries about Dr Abbey Diaz's areas of expertise, story ideas and help finding experts, contact our Media team: