Nursing with honours available projects

Research team: Professor Christine Stirling, Assoc Prof Sharon Andrews, Dr Sara Karascony, Dr Suanne Lawrence, Dr Russell James, Dr Andrea Miller

Keywords: older person, aged care, quality of life, life journey, health services

Research focus

Our group works to enhance the care of older people by improving aged care and health services, promoting evidence-based nursing practice, and supporting workforce development. We work in partnership with older people, carers, health professionals and health care workers, and organisations to improve health for older people. Our primary outcome is improved health and health care for older people. Our group have a mix of early, mid and senior researchers with expertise ranging across dementia care, palliative and end-of-life care, wound care, mental health care, workforce development and health service improvement.

Research question(s)

There will be access to retrospective local and national aged care datasets. These will be used to answer questions related to the chosen topics, with additional local data collection undertaken as required. Possible project topics include:

The last year of life, including key points in the journey and enablers of quality of life. Contact: Suanne Lawrence, Sharon Andrews or Christine Stirling

Understanding and supporting changed behaviours without medications. Contact: Russell James

Discovering how reablement impacts activities of daily living. Contact: Sharon Andrews or Christine Stirling

Engaging older people and their families and carers in services. Contact: Christine Stirling or Andrea Miller

Care of people with advanced dementia. Contact: Sara Karascony (sara.karascony@utas.edu.au) or Sharon Andrews (Sharon.Andrews@utas.edu.au)

Research design and techniques

Co-design, real-world evaluation research, implementation science, systematic reviews, descriptive statistics and regression analysis, thematic analysis and case studies.

Publications about the research program

1. James, R., Maude, P., & Searby, A. (2023). Promoting and hindering factors in the use of advance statements by Australian mental health clinicians. J Psychiatr Ment Health Nurs, 30(4), 743-760. doi.org/10.1111/jpm.12901
2. Karacsony, S., Martyn, J. A., Rosenberg, J., & Andrews, S. (2024). A qualitative evidence synthesis exploring the attitudes, beliefs and values of the long-term care workforce towards palliative care. Progress in Palliative Care, 32(5), 334-348. doi.org/10.1080/09699260.2024.2378534
3. Karacsony, S., Merl, H., O'Brien, J., Maxwell, H., Andrews, S., Greenwood, M., Rouhi, M., McCann, D., & Stirling, C. (2022). What are the Clinical and Social Outcomes of Integrated Care for Older People? A Qualitative Systematic Review. Int J Integr Care, 22(3), 14. doi.org/10.5334/ijic.6469
4. Lawrence, S., Robinson, A., & Eagar, K. (2017). Identification of the trajectory of functional decline for advance care planning in a nursing home population. Australas J Ageing, 36(3), E14-e20. doi.org/10.1111/ajag.12454 
5. Prior, S., Miller, A., Campbell, S., Linegar, K., & Peterson, G. (2020). The Challenges of Including Patients With Aphasia in Qualitative Research for Health Service Redesign: Qualitative Interview Study. J Particip Med, 12(1), e12336. doi.org/10.2196/12336
6. Xiong, B., Bailey, D. X., Stirling, C., Zeng, Z., Trinh, E., & Martin-Khan, M. (2025). Patient Experiences of Hospital Care in the Context of Comprehensive Care Delivery: A Mixed Method Study. J Adv Nurs, 81(10), 6907-6923. doi.org/10.1111/jan.16826

Research team: Claire Morley, Shandell Elmer, Pieter van Dam

Keywords: feasibility, quality management system, person-centred care, qualitative study

Research focus

Ensuring high-quality healthcare remains a global challenge. Over recent decades, hospital accreditation programs and a process-based approach to care have significantly improved patient safety and healthcare quality. However, policymakers, healthcare executives, and clinicians now seek to advance beyond traditional quality frameworks toward sustainable, adaptive quality management systems that integrate the perspectives of patients, families, providers, and professionals. In Flanders, Belgium, a consortium of 25 leading hospitals has pioneered the Flanders Quality Model (FlaQuM). FlaQuM positions quality as multidimensional (technical performance and core values), multistakeholder (patients, families, providers, and professionals), and multilevel (organisational and team levels). The model has been extensively validated, with findings published in peer-reviewed journals. Building on the success of FlaQuM, a feasibility study in Tasmania, Australia, is proposed, where the healthcare system faces similar challenges but operates within a distinct regulatory, financial, and cultural context.

Research question(s)

How can FLAUQuM, as a quality management model, be implemented in the Tasmanian Health Services? Dr Claire Morley

Research design and techniques

This study will assist with building effective implementation strategies by helping to address facilitators, barriers and uncertainties around context and stakeholder support. A qualitative descriptive study will be conducted using focus groups with representatives from four  Tasmanian Hospitals and health consumers. The capability, opportunity, and motivation for behaviour model (COM-B) will guide the development of the interview questions.

Publications about the research program

It is anticipated that at least one paper for publication will be delivered as an output. This paper will be developed in collaboration with Professor Kris Vanhaecht, KU Leuven Institute for Healthcare Policy and Dr Peter Lachman Director of the PMSF Global Patient Safety Fellowship program.

Vanhaecht, K., Van der Auwera, C., Claessens, F., Leenaerts, Z., Seys, D., & De Ridder, D. (2023). Flanders Quality Model (FlaQuM): towards the development of a sustainable, integrated quality management system. International Journal of Integrated Care, 23(S1).

Claessens, F., Van der Auwera, C., Seys, D., & Vanhaecht, K. (2024, April). Assessing the maturity of the implementation of the Flanders Quality Model (FlaQuM) co-creation roadmap in hospitals. In the IHI BMJ International Forum on Quality & Safety in Healthcare, Date: 2024/04/10-2024/04/12, Location: London, United Kingdom.

Claessens, F., Van der Auwera, C., Seys, D., De Ridder, D., Van Wilder, A., Vanhaecht, K., & Research Group, A. T. F. (2024). A multiphase, multicentre development and validation of two maturity tools assessing the implementation of the FlaQuM co-creation roadmap. International Journal for Quality in Health Care, 36(2), mzae035.

Claessens, Fien, Deborah Seys, Jonas Brouwers, Astrid Van Wilder, Anneke Jans, Eva Marie Castro, Luk Bruyneel, Dirk De Ridder, and Kris Vanhaecht. "A co-creation roadmap towards sustainable quality of care: A multi-method study." PLoS One 17, no. 6 (2022): e0269364.

Research team: A/Prof Pieter Van Dam and Dr Lauren Akkeson

Keywords: feasibility, rare diseases, person-centered care, qualitative study

Research focus

Rare Diseases are a global health priority and 17 new rare diseases are discovered each week, with a total number of rare diseases of over six thousand. This research is consistent with the Australian Government’s National Strategic Action Plan on Rare Diseases, reporting that patients with rare diseases continue to experience unacceptable delays in obtaining an accurate diagnosis, a problem exacerbated for Priority Populations including rural and regional Tasmania. Moreover, individuals with rare diseases have more hospital admissions, longer length of stay, and a higher average cost per admission. Rare Care Centres streamline care for individuals with rare diseases, like the prototypic Rare Care Centre in Perth, Australia.  In this study, the groundwork for co-design by collecting data on the barriers and enablers of establishing a Rare Care Centre will be laid.

Research question(s)

How can a Rare Care Centre be implemented in Tasmania and what are the barriers and facilitators? Contact: Pieter Van Dam.

Research design and techniques

This study will assist with building effective implementation strategies by helping to address facilitators, barriers and uncertainties around context and stakeholder support. A qualitative descriptive study will be conducted using focus groups with representatives from healthcare workers and health consumers. The capability, opportunity, and motivation for behaviour-model (COM-B) will guide the development of the interview questions.

Publications about the research program

Akesson, L. S., Parekh, S., Alderdice, A., Jackson, H., Bain, L., Dudgeon, A., ... & Wallis, M. J. (2025). Developing best practice rare disease diagnostic care models in a real-world rural/regional setting. medRxiv, 2025-07.

Palmer, E. E., Recsei, K., McKnight, L., Roberts, N., Baynam, G., Zurynski, Y., ... & Jaffe, A. (2025). “You get left behind and lost in a complex world of rare care”: equity in access to rare disease care—learnings from the Australian Rare Disease Awareness, Education, Support, and Training (RArEST) project. EBioMedicine, 115.

Ewans, L. J., Pierce, K., Farley, E., Bowden, R., Shalhoub, C., & Palmer, E. E. (2025). I've Never Heard of This! An Approach to Child and Family‐Centred Care for Children and Young People With Rare Diseases. Journal of Paediatrics and Child Health.

Adama, E. A., Arabiat, D., Foster, M. J., Afrifa-Yamoah, E., Runions, K., Vithiatharan, R., & Lin, A. (2023). The psychosocial impact of rare diseases among children and adolescents attending mainstream schools in Western Australia. International Journal of Inclusive Education, 27(12), 1273-1286.

Hay, G. J., Klonek, F. E., Thomas, C. S., Bauskis, A., Baynam, G., & Parker, S. K. (2020). SMART work design: Accelerating the diagnosis of rare diseases in the Western Australian Undiagnosed Diseases Program. Frontiers in pediatrics, 8, 582.

Research team: Associate Professor Shandell Elmer, Dr Rosie Nash, Dr Claire Evans, Jordan de Hoog, Dr Derek Choi-Lundberg, Dr Vaughan Cruickshank, Dr Kira Patterson, Dr Donald Reid, , Dr Sally LO

Keywords: health literacy, health outcomes, health decision-making

Research focus

We work with our local community to support the development of health literacy and disrupt health inequities that exist. The Health & Equity Unit responds to the UTAS Strategic Plan to address health (health literacy, health equity), educational attainment, social inclusion and economic performance, and is aligned with the UTAS Health Strategy (2018-2028) to support healthier, longer and better lives. Our research embodies two themes: Prevention and Management of Chronic Diseases Public Health, Health Systems and Primary Care. The Health Literacy and Equity Research Unit aims to: support positive health literacy and educational outcomes for Tasmanian families and reduce health inequities locally and globally; increase health literacy awareness and capacity build for whole community transformation; support schools, the health system and community organisations to be health literacy responsive and capable of redressing inequities.

Research question(s)

How does the health literacy of caregivers influence the uptake of advanced care planning with people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds? Contact: Sally Lo.

Does improving patients’ recall and understanding of information (health literacy) using CHECKBACK lead to improved self-efficacy and self-management? Contact: Shandell Elmer.

How does an online learning program support caregivers of people with complex disability to access health services and health information? Contact: Shandell Elmer.

Research design and techniques

Mixed methods, interviews, surveys, focus groups.

Publications about the research program

Osborne RH, Elmer S, Hawkins M, Cheng CC, Batterham RW, Dias S, et al. Health literacy development is central to the prevention and control of non-communicable diseases. BMJ Global Health. 2022;7:e010362. doi.org/10.1136/bmjgh-2022-010362

Murray, L., Elmer, S., & Elkhair, J. (2018). Perceived barriers to managing medications and solutions to barriers suggested by Bhutanese former refugees and service providers. Journal of Transcultural Nursing, 29(6), 570-577.

Davis, H., Elmer, S., Graves, K., & Learmonth, C. (2023). Codesign and community outreach to create COVID-19 safe communities: A Karen community case study. Frontiers in Public Health, 11, 1081767.

Murray, L., Elmer, S., Breen, J., & Nash, R. (2022). Distributive health literacy and medication management: A longitudinal qualitative study with Bhutanese former refugees in Tasmania. Health Promotion Journal of Australia, 33(2), 403-411.

Skoss, R., Chivers, P., Arendts, G., Bulsara, C., Vithiatharan, R., & Codde, J. (2024). What supports are people with intellectual disability living in group homes provided to access health care? A case study. British Journal of Learning Disabilities, 52(3), 549-561.

Talevski, J., Shee, A. W., Rasmussen, B., Kemp, G., & Beauchamp, A. (2020). Teach-back: A systematic review of implementation and impacts. PloS one, 15(4), e0231350.