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Palliative Care Research Team

Meet the Team

  • Prof. Margaret O'Connor AM - Team Leader and the inaugural Vivian Bullwinkel Chair in Palliative Care Nursing.Working from a strategic plan, the research agenda for the Chair and the Team concentrates on a few areas, in keeping with the national strategic research directions of Palliative Care Australia. Chosen areas of research are service system issues and policy in palliative care, care of veterans, and cultural aspects of end of life care. All research projects endeavour to support research in clinical areas (especially in reflecting questions from clinicians in partner organisations). All projects have sought to engage at least one of the partners. We have targeted a mix of research, in terms of funding sources and levels of funding requested.
  • Dr Susan Lee is an NHMRC Post-Doctoral Research Fellow, a two year fellowship commenced in 2008. Her project is titled Developing and Measuring Palliative Care Decision Making Skill.  She is a senior lecturer in the School and maintains some teaching and research supervision. She was Chair of the Scientific Committee for the Palliative Care Nurses Association inaugural Conference 2006, and a member of the Scientific Committee for the conference in 2008. She was a member of the Scientific Committee for Palliative Care Australia’s Biennial Conference 2007 and is also a Director of the Board of Management of Peninsula Hospice Service. In addition, Susan is a member of the local educators group that facilitates continuing and community education in palliative care and represents the Chair on the Southern Metropolitan Regional Consortium.
  • Dr Louise Peters has substantial experience in palliative care service management, staff development and as a project manager in the area of palliative care.  Her PhD thesis (2001) investigated the quality of life of cancer patients receiving palliative care. Louise was a member of the Scientific Committee for the International Palliative Care Nursing Research Conference, Prato Italy 2004. In her current role she is involved with conducting research and management of various aspects of research projects, in particular the design, ethical approvals and writing.
  • Kaori Shimoinaba is a NHMRC Postgraduate Public Health Scholar for 18 months commenced in 2008.  Her research title is “Staff Grief and Support Systems for Health Care Professionals Working in Palliative Care”.  She is a lecturer and a program coordinator for Japanese Palliative Care Programs in the School.  She has interests in cross cultural palliative education and grief issues for health care professionals working in the area of palliative care.
  • Katrina Recoche joined the team in 2006 as part of the Palliative Care Curriculum for Undergraduates site pilot project. Katrina is a lecturer in the School of Nursing and Midwifery and has over twenty years experience in palliative care nursing, particularly in community-based service delivery.
  • Dr Heather Tan   who joined the team as a Research Fellow in 2008 has submitted her PhD thesis for examination. Her project investigated the use of a family meeting model for the psycho-social and spiritual care of palliative patients and their family members.  During her candidature she was supported by a full time scholarship, a grant for research costs and travel grants that enabled her to undertake training overseas. She has a background in education, counseling (especially in the areas of grief and palliative care) and pastoral care, having both taught at the post graduate level and engaged in clinical practice.      

 

Interested in studies in palliative care?

The school of Nursing & Midwifery has major studies in palliative care at Graduate Certificate, Graduate Diploma and Master of Nursing levels. In a flexible program, course pathways are individually planned with students during a career path planning discussion. Options to undertake coursework or combinations of coursework and research are available.

Further information can be found at www.med.monash.edu.au/nursing/postgraduate/

We have a growing group of PhD students undertaking studies in topics like:
  • What happens on the day of death in a palliative care unit?
  • Issues affecting access to palliative care services for elderly Chinese people in Australia:
  • East and far east Gippsland rural residential aged care facilities, is their capacity to meet residents' palliative care needs realistic? A critical ethnographic investigation;
  • A study of the implementation of a palliative approach in a residential aged care facility using a practice development framework;
  • Issues affecting access to a palliative care for Indian people in Australia;
  • The graduate nurse experience in palliative care.

Further information on research degrees is available at www.mgrs.monash.edu.au

Final Reports for completed research projects

Linking the Parts - a three phase study describing palliative care nurse consultant roles

Dying in the place of choice. Report of Phase 1: End-of-life-care for patients with cancer in private hospitals

A very public death. Dying of mesothelioma and asbestos-related lung cancer in the Latrobe Valley

RECENT PUBLICATIONS OF TEAM MEMBERS

BOOK & BOOK CHAPTERS

O’Connor, M. (2008) An Uncertain Journey - Coping with Transitions, Survival and Recurrence In S. Payne, et. al (eds) Palliative care nursing: principles & evidence for practice 2nd edition. UK Open University Press. pp106-120

O’Connor M.  Palliative care in the community (2008) In: Kralik D & Van Loon A (eds) Community Health Nursing in Australia. Melbourne, Blackwell Publishing. pp240-255.

Hudson, R., O'Connor, M. (2007) Palliative Care and Aged Care: A Guide to Practice. Ausmed Publications.

O'Connor, M. (2007) Documentary analysis and policy. In: Research Methods in Palliative Care. Addington-Hall, J., Bruera, E,. Higginson, I., Payne, S. (eds) Oxford University Press. 229-244.

Espie, L (2005). Let the children be our teacher. Tokyo, Seikaisha.  (Published in Japan and Translated into Japanese by Kaori Shimoinaba )

O’Connor, M. (2004) Ageing in place, dying in place: the clash of philosophy & practice in aged & palliative care In: Nelson, S (Ed) Ethics, Power, Practice: In sickness & in health Series. Nursing Praxis International. Bournemouth.

O’Connor, M. (2004) Transitions in status from wellness to illness, illness to wellness. In Payne, S et. al (Eds) Palliative care nursing: principles & evidence for practice. UK Open University Press.

O’Connor, M, & Aranda, S (eds) (2003)  Palliative care nursing  – a guide topractice. Second edition. Melbourne: Ausmed Publications

O’Connor, M (2003). Hydration and nutrition issues. In O’Connor M & Aranda S. Palliative care nursing  – a guide to  practice (second edition).

 JOURNAL ARTICLES

2009

Shanmugasundaram, S. & O’Connor, M. (2009). Palliative care services for Indian migrants in Australia: Experiences of the family of terminally ill patients. Indian Journal of Palliative Care. 15(1), 76-83.

Poon, W. & O’Connor, M. (2009). Development of palliative care in Singapore: an overview. Singapore Nursing Journal, 36(3), 48-56.

Lee,S., O'Connor, M., Chapman, Y., Hamilton, V.  & Francis, K., (2009). Very Public Death: Dying of Mesothelioma and Asbestos-Related Lung Cancer (M/ARLC) in the Latrobe Valley. The International Electronic Journal of Rural and Remote Health. Accepted for publication April 2009.

O’Connor, M. (2009). Decrepit death as a discourse of death in older age: implications for policy. International Journal of Older People Nursing. (accepted for publication April 2009).

Ciechomski, L., Tan, H., O’Connor, M., Miles, G., Klein, B., &  Schattner, P. (2009). After hours palliative care provision in rural and urban Victoria, Australia Asia-Pacific Journal of Health Service Management, 4(1), 57-63.

Hsu, CY., O'Connor, M., Lee, S. (2009). "Understandings of death and dying for people of Chinese origin. Death Studies, 33, 153-174.

McCauley-Elsom, K., Gurvich, C., Lee, S., Elsom, S., O’Connor, M.,  & Kulkarni, J. (2009). Vulnerable populations and multi centred research.  International Journal of Mental Health Nursing. 18, 108-115.

O’Connor, M., Abbott, J., Payne, S., & Demmer, C. (2009). A comparison of bereavement services provided in hospice and palliative care settings in Australia, the UK and the US. Progress in Palliative Care,17(2), 1-6.

O’Connor, M., Erwin, T., & Dawson, L. (2009). “A means to an end” – the use of computer technology in palliative care service delivery.  Health Informatics Journal,15(1), 41-54.

O’Connor, M. & Peters, L. (2009). The impact of the palliative care nurse consultant role on acute hospital systems in Melbourne, Australia as viewed by their managers. End of Life Care, 3(1), 48-53.

Shimonaba, K., O’Connor, M., Lee S., & Greaves, J. (2009). Staff Grief and Support Systems for Japanese Health Care Professionals Working in Palliative Care. Palliative & Supportive Care, 7, 245-252.

2008

O’Connor, M. (2008) "I'm just not interested in eating" - when nutrition becomes an issue in palliative care. Contemporary Nurse 27 (1) 23-28

Allen, S., O’Connor, M., Chapman, Y., Francis, K.,  (2008) The implications of policy on delivering a palliative approach in residential aged care: rhetoric or reality? Contemporary Nurse.  29(2). pp174-183.

Allen, S., Chapman, Y., O'Connor, M., Francis, K. (2008). Examining the methods used for a critical ethnographic enquiry. Contemporary Nurse.   29(2). pp227-237.

O’Connor, M, Peters, L., Walsh, K. (2008) Palliative Care Nurse Consultants in Melbourne, Australia: A “snap shot” of their clinical role. International Journal of Palliative  Nursing.  14(7) pp 350-355.

Allen, S., O’Connor, M., Chapman, Y., Francis, K., (2008) Supporting nurses to make ethically sound decisions when nursing aged care residents at the end-of-life:  using DECIDE model.  Singapore Nurses Journal 55(3) 349-354

Allen, S., Chapman, Y., Francis, K., O’Connor, M., (2008) Examining the Method used for an Ethnographic Enquiry:  Becoming Critical. Contemporary Nurse. 29(2) 227-232

Allen, S., Chapman, Y., O’Connor, M., Francis, K. (2008) Discourses associated with nursing aged people who are dying in the Australian context: a review of the literature. International Nursing Review. 55(3) 349-354

O’Connor, M., Chapman Y. (2008) Linking the Parts: a three-phase study describing palliative care nurse consultant roles. Collegian. 15, 151-157.

Allen, S. Chapman Y. O'Connor M. Francis K. (2008) Adoption of a palliative care approach in residential aged care: understanding the origins to inform future practice. Collegian. 15, 165-171.

Poon, E., O’Connor, M., Yeow Leng, C., Kannauasamy, P. (2008) Palliative Care nursing education in Singapore (1999-2008). Singapore Nursing Journal 35(4) pp5-8.

 

2007

Allen, S., O’Connor, M., Chapman, Y., Francis, K., (2007) Is a palliative care approach understood: the implications of policy that is rhetoric not reality.  Contempory Nurse. 29(2) 174-183.

Allen, S., Francis, K., Chapman, Y., O’Connor, M. (2007) Multi-purpose services and palliative care – emerging challenges and possible solutions. Asia-Pacific Journal of Health Service Management 2(3) 51-55 .

O'Connor, M., Peters, L., Lee, S. ( 2007) End-of-Life Care in Private Hospitals. Asia Pacific Journal of Health Management. 2(3). 37-42.

O'Connor, M., Lee, S. (2007). Authentic performance appraisal when home is the workplace. Intenational Journal of Palliative Care. 13(12). 606-609.

Allen, S. Chapman Y. O'Connor M. Francis K. (2007) The importance of language for nursing: does it convey commonality of meaning and is it important to do so.  Australian Journal of Advanced Nursing.  24(4): 47-51, 2007 Jun-Aug.

Rechoche, K., O'Connor, M., Lee, S. (2007) Mock interdisciplinary team meetings as a forum for undergraduate education in palliative care. Focus on Health Professional Education: A Multi-disciplinary Journal. 8(3), 79-86.

Shimoinaba, K., Lee, S. (2007) Support for nurses working with palliative care patients in Japan. Asian Journal of Nursing. 10(4) 243-250.

O'Connor, M., Lee, S. (2007) Authentic performance appraisal: when home is the workplace. International Journal of Palliative Nursing. 13(12), 606-609.

Shimonaba K., O’Connor, M., Lee, S. Staff Grief and Support Systems for Japanese Health Care Professionals Working in Palliative Care. Palliative & Supportive Care Care (accepted Oct 2007)

2006

O’Connor, M., Payne, S. (2006) Discourse Analysis: examining the potential for research in palliative care. Palliative Medicine Vol 20, 8 229-834. Impact Factor 1.939 77/103 Medicine, General & Internal

O’Connor, M., Lee, S.  “Till death us do part” – issues of fidelity in end of life care.Journal of Religion, Spirituality & Ageing (2006).  Vol 18,4 227-245

Hudson, P., Kristjanson, L., Ashby, M., Kelly, B., Schofield, P.,  Hudson, R., Aranda, S., O’Connor, M., Street, A. (2006) A systematic review of the desire for hastened death in patients with advanced disease and the evidence base of clinical guidelines. Palliative Medicine 20 (7), 693-71. Impact Factor 1.93977/103 Medicine, General & Internal

Hudson, P., Schofield, P., Kelly, B., Hudson, R., Street, A. O’Connor, M.,   Kristjanson, L. Ashby, M., Aranda, S. (2006)   Responding to desire to die statements from patients with advanced disease: recommendations for health professionals. Palliative Medicine 20 (7),703-10. Impact Factor 1.939 77/103 Medicine, General & Internal

Peters L., Sellick K.,  (2006) Quality of life of cancer patients receiving inpatient and home-based palliaitve care.   Journal of Advanced Nursing 53(5): 524-533, 2006 Mar. Impact Factor 1.342. 16/46 Nursing.

O'Connor M. Commentary on Trovo de Araujo M and Paes da Silva MJ (2004) Communication with dying patients: perception of intensive care units nurses in Brazil. Journal of Clinical Nursing 13, 143-149.[comment]. [Comment. Journal Article] Journal of Clinical Nursing. 15(1):114-6, 2006 Jan. Impact Factor 1.430 14/36 Nursing

Shanmugasundaram S., Chapman  Y., O’Connor M. (2006) Development of Palliative care inIndia: An Overview. International Journal of Nursing Practice. 12(4), pp241-246.

O’Connor M., Lee S. (2006) Till death us do part – issues of fidelity in end of life care. Journal of Religion Spirituality and Aging. Vol 18 (4) 227-245.

2005

Chiung-Yin Hsu, O’Connor M., Lee S.  (2005) Issues affecting access to palliative care services for older Chinese people in Australia. ACCNS Journal of Community Nurses 10(3): 9-1.

O’Connor M.  (2005) Mission Statements: an example of exclusive language in palliative care? International Journal of Palliative Nursing 11(4), p.190-196.

O’Connor M., Peters L., Lee S., Webster C. (2005) Palliative care work, between death & discharge. Journal of Palliative Care 22(2): 97-102.

Namasivayam P, Orb, A, O’Connor, M (2005) The challenges of caring for families of the terminally ill: nurses lived experience. Contemporary Nurse  Vol 19 (1-2) 169-180.

Shimoinaba, K. (2005). Palliative Care Postgraduate Education for Nurses in Australia. . The Japanese Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care, 15 (1), 36-39.

Shimoinaba, K. (2005) The role of CNC/CNS in Victoria, Australia. The Japanese Journal of Clinical Nursing Monthly, 31 (11).

2004

Allen, S, Francis, K, & O’Connor, M (2004). Research an exciting journey and a career statement: A means to an end, putting rurality on the nursing agenda. Australian Journal of Rural Health, 12(6),pp.279-280.

O’Connor, M. (2004) Methodology for Palliative care research: evaluating palliative care and aged care policy using discourse analysis. Abstract. Palliative Medicine. 200418(4) p366

O’Connor, M. (2004)  Conferences for Researchers – why meet? Open Dialogue. International Journal of Palliative Nursing. 10/6, p278

O’Connor, M. (2004)  What do Residential Aged care facilities say about Care of the Dying? Collegian 11(2), 27-31

O’Connor M, Pearson A (2004)  Ageing in place – dying in place – competing discourses for care of the dying in aged care policy O’Connor M (2004) Australian Journal of Advanced Nursing  22(2), 31-37

Shimoinaba, K. (2004). Nurses’ role and education for nurses working in the Palliative Care Team inAustralia. Japanese Journal of Palliative Medicine. 

Shimoinaba, K. (2004). Palliative Care multi-professional approach in Australia. Symptom Management in Cancer Patients, 15 (2), 61-66.

2003

Maddocks, I, Dunne, P, O’Connor, M (2003) (eds) Palliative Care: a new dimension in healthcare. Medical Journal of Australia Vol 179(6) Supplement

Shimoinaba, K. (2003). Palliative Care in Victoria, Australia 2. The Japanese Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care, 13 (1), 46-48.

Shimoinaba, K. (2003). Palliative Care in Victoria, Australia 3. The Japanese Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care, 13 (2), 137-139.

CD's & MONOGRAPHS

Cass, BA., O’Connor, M. (2009) the fragility of being cared for in the community and the decision to go to Emergency: the experience of patients receiving palliative care. In O’Connor, M., Griffiths, D., Ives, G., Newton, J., Tan, h. (eds) From Birth to Death: clinical nursing and midwifery research across the lifespan.  pp 27-38 Melbourne, Australia. Monash University.

Peters, L., O’Connor, M. (2009) Caring for veterans at the end of life: the nurses’ perspective.  In O’Connor, M., Griffiths, D., Ives, G., Newton, J., Tan, h. (eds) From Birth to Death: clinical nursing and midwifery research across the lifespan. pp39-52 Melbourne, Australia. Monash University.

Peters, L., Lee, S. (2009) Supporting staff and family communication in palliative care. In O’Connor, M., Griffiths, D., Ives, G., Newton, J., Tan, h. (eds) From Birth to Death: clinical nursing and midwifery research across the lifespan. pp 92-111. Melbourne, Australia. Monash University.

Kos, L., Lee. S. (2009) An ideal process: preparation of informal caregivers when taking a relative home for palliative care. In O’Connor, M., Griffiths, D., Ives, G., Newton, J., Tan, h. (eds) From Birth to Death: clinical nursing and midwifery research across the lifespan. pp112-127. Melbourne, Australia. Monash University.

O'Connor, M. (2004) (ed) Incontro Internazionale, exploring connections. Proceedings of the International Conference in palliative care research,Prato. Monash University, Melbourne.

O’Connor, M. (2004).  Policy Research in a political environment  in: International Palliative Care  Nursing Research Conference Proceedings, Prato, Tuscany : 8-10 June. Monash University, Frankston, Victoria.   ISBN:0-7326-2268-9Prato pp1-27

O’Connor, M, Barnett T. & Namasivayam, P. (Eds) (2004). Palliative Care: issues for health care  Professionals. A selection of edited papers presented at a palliative care conference in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. CeLTS, Monash University, Churchill, Victoria. ISBN: 0-7326-266-2

O’Connor, M. (2004) Palliative Care Nursing – a unique specialty? In: O’Connor M, Barnett, T, Namasivayam, P. (Eds). (2004) Palliative care: issues for health care professionals.

O’Connor, M. (2004) Directions in palliative care – looking back to lookforward. In:  O’Connor, M, Barnett, T, Namasivayam, P. (Eds)   (2004) Palliative care: issues for health care professionals.

 

  
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