Christine Low

PhD Candidate

Contact

Location: Centre for Rural Health, E Block, Newnham Campus
Email: Christine.Low@utas.edu.au

Biography

Christine is a PhD candidate in the Centre of Rural Health at University of Tasmania. She graduated in Bachelor of Nursing (Hons) from International Medical University, Kuala Lumpur in 2013. Upon graduation, she was attached with a non-governmental organisation, Hospis Malaysia and has worked as a community palliative care nurse. During her stint in Hospis Malaysia, her primary role was to provide physical, psychological, emotional and spiritual care to terminally ill patients as well as to provide guidance to their families and caregivers to care for their loved one at home. She was also involved in conducting workshop for palliative care nurses. She was actively involved in the teaching program for new nurses, visiting medical students, family medicine doctors and palliative care specialist trainees. She later pursued her Master of Palliative Care in Flinders University, Adelaide, Australia and completed her studies in 2019. She is currently a member of Asia Pacific Hospice Palliative Care Network (APHN), International Children's Palliative Care Network (ICPCN) and International Association for the Study of Pain (IASP).

Publications

“Patient Perceptions and Experience of Pain, Anxiety and Comfort during Peripheral Intravenous Cannulation in Medical Wards: Topical Anaesthesia, Effective Communication, and Empowerment.” International Journal of Nursing Science 2015, 5(2): 41-46
Low, C., S., L. Cancer Pain Management in the Community: Relieving Pain Without Medications; 2016 10-12 March; Swan Convention Centre, Sunway Medical Centre. Proceeding of 5th Biennial Scientific Meeting 2016 Scientific Programme Conference, MALAYSIAN ASSOCIATION for the STUDY of PAIN, Malaysia.

Qualifications

Bsc of Nursing (Hons)
Msc of Palliative Care

Interests

Community Palliative Care
Afterhours services in Palliative Care
Palliative Care Education
Grief and Bereavement

PhD Research

Project/Thesis Title	Clinical Outcome and Impact of an Afterhours Teleassistance Service in Palliative Care Setting
Aim	Palliative Care Australia (PCA) has recently highlighted the need to support palliative care patients and their families round the clock, especially in the community. An essential component of good palliative care service is to have support available for clients and their carers 24hours/day, seven days/week. It is reported that around 70% of Australian would opt to die at home. For most people, dying at home can be challenging due to inequitable support and access to community-based service. Often, family members and carers can experience a high burden of care and emotional distress when providing end-of-life care to a loved one at home. Access to professional expertise when needed afterhours can be especially difficult. The use of healthcare technology can help close the gap of afterhours care. In palliative care, the application and modification of telehealth technology has been seen to be beneficial, especially in the rural and remote areas. The aims of this study are to: investigate current Palliative Care Afterhours Teleassistance Service delivery. evaluate the Afterhours Teleassistance Service for patients, their families and carers. 3) provide recommendation to improve Afterhours Teleassistance Service in Palliative Care.
Supervisors	Dr.Tony Barnett, Dr. Pathmavathy Namasivayam

Project/Thesis Title

Clinical Outcome and Impact of an Afterhours Teleassistance Service in Palliative Care Setting

Aim

Palliative Care Australia (PCA) has recently highlighted the need to support palliative care patients and their families round the clock, especially in the community. An essential component of good palliative care service is to have support available for clients and their carers 24hours/day, seven days/week. It is reported that around 70% of Australian would opt to die at home. For most people, dying at home can be challenging due to inequitable support and access to community-based service. Often, family members and carers can experience a high burden of care and emotional distress when providing end-of-life care to a loved one at home. Access to professional expertise when needed afterhours can be especially difficult.

The use of healthcare technology can help close the gap of afterhours care. In palliative care, the application and modification of telehealth technology has been seen to be beneficial, especially in the rural and remote areas. The aims of this study are to:

investigate current Palliative Care Afterhours Teleassistance Service delivery.

evaluate the Afterhours Teleassistance Service for patients, their families and carers.

3) provide recommendation to improve Afterhours Teleassistance Service in Palliative Care.

Supervisors

Dr.Tony Barnett, Dr. Pathmavathy Namasivayam