Professor Margaret O'Connor AM

DN(La Trobe), MN (RMIT), B.Theol (Melb) RN, FRCNA, AIMM

Vivian Bullwinkel Chair in Palliative Care Nursing.

Phone: +61 3 9904 4053 Fax: + 61 3 9904 4402 Email: margaret.oconnor@med.monash.edu.au

Professor O’Connor is the inaugural Vivian Bullwinkel Chair in Palliative Care Nursing, School of Nursing & Midwifery, Monash University Melbourne, a position she has held since 2003. Prior to this she has enjoyed a long and diverse career in palliative care, in roles that have encompassed the establishment and management of mainly community-based palliative care services. Her current position formally encompasses 3 clinical partners where Professor O’Connor is actively involved in developing staff research projects.

Professor O’Connor is responsible for the Palliative Care Research Team in the School and manages a number of clinical research projects, which have received more than $500,000 in funding from internal and external sources. The growing research team includes a post-doctoral fellow and nine PhD students. Research projects are centred around key areas - service system and policy issues and issues of culture and palliative care. All projects involve the above clinical partners and many research questions have arisen from within the clinical setting. She is well published in these research areas.

Professor O’Connor sits on many State and National Committees, including being a member of the Australian Health Ethics Committee of the National Health & Medical Research Council. She is a Board member of the International Association for Hospice & Palliative Care, the Asia-Pacific Hospice Network and on the working party for the World Palliative Care Alliance. She became President of Palliative Care Australia in September 2006.

In 2002 and 2008 Professor O’Connor was awarded the Nina Buscombe Prize from the Motor Neurone Disease Association of Victoria. In 2005 Professor O’Connor accepted the national honour of Member of the Order of Australia, for service to the development and establishment of palliative care services in Victoria, an acknowledgement of Margaret‘s 20 year contribution to palliative care.

Research Interests

Preferred Research Methodologies

• Discourse analysis
• Quantitative analysis

Accredited as Level 1 Supervisor

Current Projects

• After hours community palliative care - evaluation framework.
  • Funded by the Victorian Department of Health.
• Utilization of cancer and palliative care services by different cultural groups.
  • Funded by the Victorian Cancer Agency.
• An investigation of care planning decisions in advanced pulmonary and cardiac illness in the Bayside Health Care region.
  • Funded by NHMRC Palliative Care Research Program Round 3 - Research Development Grants. 2008
• Expectations and barriers in the ambulance service and palliative care interface.
  • Funded by NHMRC Palliative Care Research Program Round 3 - Research Development Grants. 2008
• What happens after dark? Improving “after hours” palliative care planning in urban and rural Victoria, for patients, their carers and health professionals.
  • Funded by the department of Health & Ageing. Local Palliative Care Grants Program   Round 3 - Care Planning.   2006
• Development and implementation of an educational program to guide palliative care for people with Motor Neurone Disease.
  • Funded by NHMRC Palliative Care Priority Driven Research Grants Round 3 2006.

Current Student Research Topics

• Older Singaporean Chinese with life threatening illness in hospice. (PhD study)
• How is palliative care delivered for older Chinese people in Australia. (PhD study)
• East and Far East Gippsland rural residential aged care facilities, is their capacity to meet resident's palliative care needs realistic? A critical ethnographic investigation. (PhD study)
• How do palliative care nurses care for families of the terminally ill: A Malaysian Perspective? (PhD study)
• Implementation of a palliative approach using a practice development framework. (PhD study)
• Issues affecting access to palliative care for Indian people in Australia. (PhD study)
• Staff Grief and Support System for Japanese Health Care Professionals working in palliative care. (PhD study)
• What happens after death in a palliative care unit. (Honours degree-completed 2008)
  

Recent Speaking Engagements

Dying is everyone’s business!

Perspective, ABC Radio National, Tuesday 8 July 2008 at 5.54 pm

http://www.abc.net.au/rn/perspective/stories/2008/2296707.htm#transcript downloaded 9 July 2008

Publications

Journal Publications

2009

O'Connor, M., Davis, M. & Abernathy, A. (in press). Language, Discourse and Meaning in Palliative Medicine. (accepted for publication Progress in Palliative Care, November 2009)

O'Connor, M. (2009). Decrepit death as a discourse of death in older age: implications for policy. International Journal of Older People Nursing, 4(4), 263-271.

Tan, H., O'Connor, M., Miles, G., Klein, B. & Schattner, P. (2009). GP and nurses' perceptions of how after hours care for people receiving palliative care at home could be improved: a mixed methods study. BMC Palliative Care, 8(13) epub.

McCauley-Elsom, K., Gurvich, C., Lee, S., Elsom, S., O'Connor, M. & Kulkarni, J. (2009). Vulnerable populations and multicentred research. Journal of Mental Health Nursing, 18(2), 108-115.

Shanmugasundaram, S., O'Connor, M. & Sellick, K. (2009). A multicultural perspective on conducting palliative care research in an Indian population in Australia. International Journal of Palliative Nursing. 15(9), 440-445.

O'Connor, M. (2009). Understanding the influence of palliative care nursing: a global perspective. International Journal of Palliative Medicine. 15(7), 316-317.

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.

Shimoinaba, K., O'Connor, M., Lee, S., Greaves, J. (2009). Staff grief and support sustems for Japanese health care professionals working in palliative care. Palliative and Supportive Care, 7, 245-252.

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. 9 (on-line) 1183. Available from: http://www.rrh.org.au

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. The Asia Pacific Journal of Health Management, 4(1), 57-63.

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 USA. Progress in Palliative Care, 17(2), 69-74.

O'Connor, M. & Peters, L. (2009). Palliative care nurse consultants in acute hospitals in Australia. End of Life Care.  3(1),48-53.

O'Connor, M., Erwin T. & Dawson L. (2009). A means to an end: a web-based client management system in palliative care. Health Informatics Journal, 15(1), 41-54.

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

Tan, H., O'Connor, M., Miles, G., Schattner, P.  & Klein, B. (2009, July) After hours palliative care. Austrarlian Nursing Journal, 17(1), 45.

O'Connor, M., Lee, S., Chapman, Y., Francis, K., Humphries, J. (2009, June). A very public death: Mesothelioma and asbestos-related lung cancer. Australian Nursing Journal, 16(11) 52-53.  

2008

O'Connor, M. & Chapman, Y. (2008). The palliative care clinical nurse consultant: an essential link. Collegian, 15, 151-157.

Allen, S., Francis, K., O’Connor, M. & Chapman, Y. (2008). Gaining human ethics approval: a strategy for refining research studies. Monash Bioethics Review, 27(3), 54-60.

Abbott, J., O'Connor, M. & Payne, S. (2008). An Australian survey of palliative care and hospice bereavement services. The Australian Journal of Cancer Nursing, 9(2), 12-17.

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.

O’Connor, M., Peters, L. & Walsh, K. (2008). Palliative Care nurse consultants in Melbourne : a snapshot of their clinical role. International Journal of Palliative Nursing, 4(7), 302-307.

Allen, S., Francis, K., Chapman, Y. & O’Connor M. (2008). The evolution of palliative care and the relevance to residential aged care: Understanding the past to inform the future. Collegian,  15(4),165-171. 

Allen, S., Chapman, Y., Francis, K. & O’Connor, M. (2008).  Supporting nurses to make ethically sound decisions when nursing aged care residents at the end-of-life: Using the DECIDE model. Singapore Nursing Journal, 35(2), 4-11.

Allen, S., O’Connor, M., Chapman, Y. & 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.

Allen, S., O’Connor, M., Chapman, Y. & Francis, K. (2008). Funding regimes and the implications for delivering quality palliative care within residential aged care units. The International Electronic Journal of Rural and Remote Health. 8(903) online pp.1-7.

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), 174-183.

Poon, W., O'Connor, M., Chow, Y., Kannusamy, P. (2008). Palliative care nursing education in Singapore.  Singapore Nursing Journal, 35(4), 5-8.

Allen, S., Chapman, Y., Francis, K., & O’Connor, M.  (2008). Examining the methods used for a critical ethnographic inquiry. Contemporary Nurse, 29(2), 227-235. 

2007

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.

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.

O’Connor, M., Peters, L. & Lee, S. (2007). Palliative care in private hospitals. Asia-Pacific Journal of Health Service Management, 2(3), 37-42.

O’Connor, M. & Lee, S. (2007). Authentic performance appraisal when home is the workplace. International Journal of Palliative Nursing,13(12), 606-9.

Recoche, 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 multidisciplinary Journal, 8(3), 79-86. 

2006

O’Connor, M. & Payne, S. (2006). Discourse Analysis: examining the potential for research in palliative care. Palliative Medicine, 20(8), 229-834. Impact factor 1.652. 21/57 Health Sciences & Services, 46/100 Public, Environmental and Occupational Health, 37/100 Medicine, General & Internal.

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

Hudson, P., Kristjanson, L., Ashby, M., Kelly, B., Schofield, P., Hudson, R., Aranda, S., O’Connor, M. & Street, A.(2006). Desire for hastened death in patients with advanced disease and the evidence base of clinical guidelines. A systematic Review. Palliative Medicine.  20(7), 693-671. Impact factor 1.652. 21/57 Health Sciences & Services, 46/100 Public, Environmental and Occupational Health, 37/100 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), 703-710. Impact factor 1.652. 21/57 Health Sciences & Services, 46/100 Public, Environmental and Occupational Health, 37/100 Medicine, General & Internal_.

Shanmugasundaram, S., Chapman, Y. & O’Connor, M. (2006). Development of Palliative care in India : An Overview. International Journal of Nursing Practice,12(4), 241-246.

2001 - 2005

Hsu ,C., O'Connor, M., & Lee, S. (2005). Issues affecting access to palliative care services for older Chinese people in australia. ACCNS Journal of Community Nursing, 10(3), 9-11.

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

O'Connor, M., Peters, L., Lee, S. & Webster, C. (2005). Palliative care work, between death and discharge. Journal of Palliative Care, 21(2) Summer, 97-210. Impact Factor 0.882, 21/57 Healthcare Sciences and Services.

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

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.  Australian Journal of Advanced Nursing, 22(2), 31-37.

O’Connor, M. & Webb, R. (2002). Learning to rest when in pain. European Journal of Palliative Care, 9(2), 68-71.

Aranda, S., Haynes, C., Devilee, L., O’Connor, M., & Bence, G. (2001). In-patient hospice triage of “after-hours” calls to a community palliative care service. International Journal of Palliative Nursing, 7(5), 214-220.

Books and Book Chapters

2009

Recoche, K., O'Connor, M., Lee, S., Tan, H. & Griffiths, D. (2009). Death, Dying and Loss. In J. Dempsey, J. French & S. Hillege (Eds.), Fundamentals of Nursing & Midwifery: A person-centred approach to care (pp484-509). Broadway, NSW: Lippincott Williams and Wilkins

O’Connor, M., Griffiths, D., Ives, G., Newton, J., Tan, h. (eds) (2009) From Birth to Death: clinical nursing and midwifery research across the lifespan. Melbourne, Australia. Monash University.

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.

2008

O’Connor, M. (2008) An uncertain journey: coping with transitions, survival and recurrence. In: Payne P, Seymour S, Ingleton C. (eds) Palliative Care Nursing: principles and evidence for practice. 2^nd edition. McGraw Hill UK

O'Connor, M. (2008) Palliative Care in the Community. In: Kralik D, van Loon A (eds). Community Nursing in Australia . Blackwell Publishing Australia .

2003-2007

Hudson, R., O’Connor, M. (Eds) (2007). Care of the dying: a practical approach to aged care.  Melbourne: Ausmed Publications

O’Connor, M. (2007)  Documentary analysis and policy. In: Addington-Hall Julia, Bruera Eduardo, Higginson Irene, Payne, Sheila (eds) Research methods in palliative care: Cambridge University Press UK 

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

O’Connor, M. (2004) Palliative Care Nursing – a unique specialty? In: O’Connor Margaret, Barnett, Tony, Namasivayam Pathmavathy (eds)  (2004) Palliative care: issues for health care professionals. Churchill: Monash University .

O’Connor, M. (2004) Directions in palliative care – looking back to look forward. In:  O’Connor Margaret, Barnett, Tony, Namasivayam Pathmavathy (eds)   (2004) Palliative care: issues for health care professionals. Churchill: Monash University. 

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. 1^st edition. Open University Press UK.

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

O’Connor, M., Aranda, S. (2003) Ethical Decision-Making In: O’Connor Margaret & Aranda Sanchia (eds) Palliative care nursing  – a guide to practice.(Second edition). Melbourne : Ausmed Publications

O’Connor, M.   (2003). Hydration and nutrition issues. Palliative care nursing  – a guide to  practice(second edition). Melbourne: Ausmed Publications.

Published Conference Papers

Palliative care Standards: Criteria for determining service outcomes. Paper presented at International Nursing Conference on Palliative care: theory, skills and practices, Hangzhou China

O’Connor, M. (2004). Policy research in a political environment. “Incontro Internazionale, exploring connections”. Prato. Monash University, Melbourne p 1-27

O’Connor, M. (2002). Ageing in place – dying in place: the challenges of palliative care in aged care settings. Conference Proceedings: Challenges to improving care of the dying. Palliative Care Victoria. (18^th March)