Adjunct Professor
Alexandra Mccarthy
This person does not currently hold a position at QUT.
Biography
Alexandra (who prefers to be called Sandie) has practised extensively in acute cancer care, including chemotherapy administration, in rural and metropolitan settings. Her PhD investigated sociocultural issues related to breast cancer using discourse analysis and she has a passion for the sociological as well as clinical aspects of cancer care . Sandie's current funded research has two streams. The first stream focuses upon issues related to the long term outcomes of cancer treatments, using both quantitative and qualitative methods. The second stream concentrates on collaborative interventions to assess and manage the toxicities of acute cancer treatments. Her current program has particular focus on the older cancer patient. Current and recent project highlights include:- (2014) Determining fitness for treatment of older cancer patients. PA Foundation Project Grant
- (2013-16) Enhancing women's healthy lifestyle after breast, gynaecological and bowel cancer therapy with information technology, NHMRC Partnership Grant
- (2013-15) Providing tailored support for head and neck cancer survivors, NHMRC Project Grant
- (2013) Validating a novel, low cost, automated malnutrition screening system as a predictor of nutritional risk in an oncology day care unit, OHMR Allied Health Practitioner Grant and Dietitian's Association of Australia
- (2012-2014) Ginger intervention for chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting, Qld Health Allied Health Practitioner Grant
- (2011-2013) Scoping the cardiotoxities of cancer therapies, IHBI MCR Grant
- (2011-2013) Patient needs analysis - cardiotoxicities of cancer treatment, IHBI Collaborative Grant
- (2011-2014) Longitudinal assessment of cognition and affect in HSCT-A patients, OCNO Experienced Researcher Grant
- (2010) Evaluation of a standardized two-step process of pre-screening and comprehensive assessment of the older cancer patient with solid malignancy, Metro South Division of Cancer Services
- (2009 – 2010) Development of cancer survivorship self-management plans, Department of Health and Ageing
- (2009-2012) Cryotherapy for docetaxel-induced nail toxicities: Case control study, PAH Foundation Private Practice Grants
- (2009) Mapping National Cancer Nursing Education Framework, EdCaN
- (2009-2011) Health promotion and risk-reduction behaviours of younger female survivors of breast and haematological cancers, Queensland Nursing Council
- (2009-2010) Prevalence of malnutrition and nutrition impact symptoms in chemotherapy patients, Queensland Health – Health Practitioner Research Scheme
Personal details
Keywords
Cancer, Chemotherapy, Chemotherapy Toxicities, Geriatric Oncology, Peritoneal Dialysis
Discipline
Nursing
Field of Research code, Australian and New Zealand Standard Research Classification (ANZSRC), 2008
Qualifications
- PhD (Queensland University of Technology)
- Master of Nursing (Flinders University of SA)
- Bachelor of Nursing (University of Southern Qld)
Professional memberships and associations
- Professor of Cancer Nursing, Princess Alexandra Hospital (joint appointment with QUT School of Nursing)
- Member, Translational Research Institute
- Member, Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation
- Member of the Cancer Nurses Society of Australia (CNSA)
- Immediate past Chair of the CNSA Education Committee, and current member
- Immediate past National Executive Committee, CNSA, Queensland Representative
- Long-standing member of the CNSA's Research Committee
- Member, Cancer Services Southern Clinical Network
- Member, Princess Alexandra Cancer Collaborative Group
Teaching
Sandie is the Subject Area Co-ordinator for the postgraduate cancer nursing curriculum. She teaches the coursework component of the postgraduate cancer curriculum and supervises quantitative and qualitative Masters and doctoral students in the field of oncology.
Experience
Sandie has practised clinically in oncology nursing since 1995, specialising principally in chemotherapy, in both metropolitan and regional settings.
In her current joint apointment with the Division of Cancer Services at Princess Alexandra Hospital in Brisbane, Sandie is responsible for enhancing the clinical research capacity and knowledge translation of the multidisciplinary team.
Current collaborative projects focus on the health promotion and risk reduction during and after cancer treatments; the assessment and management of the acute and long-term toxicities of chemotherapy such as altered cognition, peripheral neuropathy and left ventricular failure; and assessing the fitness of older cancer patients for chemotherapy. We are currently evaluating a unique model of oncogeriatric care at Princess Alexandra Hospital based on our research in this field.
Sandie represents Queensland cancer nurses on the National Executive Committee of the Cancer Nurses Society of Australia (CNSA), with her 4 year term expiring in January 2014. Sandie is a long-standing member of the CNSA's Education, Research, and Grants and Awards Committees. She reviews for several international cancer nursing journals and research grant bodies.
Read more
In her current joint apointment with the Division of Cancer Services at Princess Alexandra Hospital in Brisbane, Sandie is responsible for enhancing the clinical research capacity and knowledge translation of the multidisciplinary team.
Current collaborative projects focus on the health promotion and risk reduction during and after cancer treatments; the assessment and management of the acute and long-term toxicities of chemotherapy such as altered cognition, peripheral neuropathy and left ventricular failure; and assessing the fitness of older cancer patients for chemotherapy. We are currently evaluating a unique model of oncogeriatric care at Princess Alexandra Hospital based on our research in this field.
Sandie represents Queensland cancer nurses on the National Executive Committee of the Cancer Nurses Society of Australia (CNSA), with her 4 year term expiring in January 2014. Sandie is a long-standing member of the CNSA's Education, Research, and Grants and Awards Committees. She reviews for several international cancer nursing journals and research grant bodies.
Selected publications
QUT ePrints
For more publications by Alexandra, explore their research in QUT ePrints (our digital repository).
Awards
- Type
- Reviewer for an Academic Journal
- Reference year
- 2009
- Details
- ERA A* journal.
- Type
- Academic Honours, Prestigious Awards or Prizes
- Reference year
- 2008
- Details
- Chosen (and fully sponsored) by the Clinical Oncology Society of Australia to represent the Southern Clinical Cancer Network at this prestigious international workshop.
- Type
- Academic Honours, Prestigious Awards or Prizes
- Reference year
- 2009
- Details
- Travel grant to present at the 16th Annual Conference of the International Society of Nurses in Cancer Care, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
- Type
- Advisor/Consultant for Industry
- Reference year
- 2008
- Details
- Member of the management committee
- Type
- Advisor/Consultant for Industry
- Reference year
- 2009
- Details
- Independent reviewer of curriculum materials
- Type
- Appointment to State/National/International Reference Group or Government Committees
- Reference year
- 2008
- Details
- Inaugural Chair of Education Committee (since 2008); inaugural member of Grants and Awards Committee (since 2003); Queensland representative National Executive Committee (since 2010)
- Type
- Appointment to State/National/International Reference Group or Government Committees
- Reference year
- 2008
- Details
- Member of the National Research Advisory Committee
- Type
- Appointment to State/National/International Reference Group or Government Committees
- Reference year
- 2008
- Details
- Statutory multidisciplinary body set up by Commonwealth government to guide multidisciplinary cancer education in Australia. I represent nursing on this committee.
- Type
- Appointment to State/National/International Reference Group or Government Committees
- Reference year
- 2009
- Details
- For assessment of higher education institutions and their courses.
- Type
- Appointment to State/National/International Reference Group or Government Committees
- Reference year
- 2010
- Details
- Queensland representative on National Executive Committee