Ms Melissa Carlson
Research Associate
School of Medicine and Public Health
- Email:melissa.carlson@newcastle.edu.au
- Phone:(02) 4042 0168
Career Summary
Biography
Melissa Carlson is a PhD Candidate and Research Associate at the University of Newcastle. Melissa's PhD explores the acceptability and feasibility of implementing routine cognitive assessment of people with glioma and glioblastama in cancer care settings with the aim of improving brain cancer care outcomes.
Melissa's research interests include applying a variety of research methods, both quantitative and qualitative, to explore and improve psycho-oncology outcomes and equity in healthcare for both patients and caregivers experiencing cancer.
Qualifications
- Bachelor of Social Science (Honours), University of Newcastle
- Bachelor of Social Science, University of Newcastle
Keywords
- Health Behaviour
- Implementation Science
- Psycho-oncology
- Research Methods
- Supportive Care
Professional Experience
UON Appointment
| Title | Organisation / Department |
|---|---|
| Casual Academic | University of Newcastle School of Humanities, Creative Ind and Social Sci Australia |
| Research Associate | University of Newcastle School of Medicine and Public Health Australia |
Professional appointment
| Dates | Title | Organisation / Department |
|---|---|---|
| 1/8/2017 - 31/12/2023 | Research Assistant | School of Medicine and Public Health, Faculty of Health and Medicine, University of Newcastle Australia |
| 1/1/2014 - 31/1/2016 | Casual Academic and Peer Support (CAPS) Mentor | Centre for Teaching and Learning, University of Newcastle Australia |
Teaching
| Code | Course | Role | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| HUSE3006 |
Social Policy and Planning in Regional Contexts College of Human and Social Futures | University of Newcastle This course examines how place-based social planning is influenced by wider social policy and how it interacts with community engagement at the regional and local level. Students will develop knowledge and skills in social planning techniques and practices and will explore aspects including locational disadvantage, community development and the relation to other professions, and the relevance of ecological sustainability to the social services sector. |
Lecturer | 1/1/2024 - 31/12/2024 |
| SOCS2100 |
Organisational Management and Social Behaviour College of Human and Social Futures, University of Newcastle |
Lecturer and Course Coordinator | 1/1/2022 - 31/7/2022 |
| SOCA1010 |
Society and Culture: A Sociological Introduction College of Human and Social Futures | University of Newcastle |
Tutor | 1/1/2022 - 31/7/2024 |
| SOCS3200 |
Qualitative Social Inquiry Applied Research Project College of Human and Social Futures | University of Newcastle |
Lecturer/Tutor | 1/1/2024 - 31/12/2024 |
| SOCS2400 |
Surveying the Social: Applied Quantitative Research School of Humanities and Social Science | University of Newcastle |
Tutor/Marker | 1/7/2020 - 9/3/2024 |
| SOCS2100 |
Organisational Management and Social Behaviour Univeristy of Newcastle |
Tutor | 1/3/2021 - 31/12/2021 |
| NURS1101 |
Foundations of Professional Practice School of Medicine and Public Health, The University of Newcastle This course prepares nursing and midwifery students for their roles as knowledgeable and skilled health care professionals. It provides an introduction to and foundation for professional conduct, critical thinking and safe, evidence-based clinical practice |
Tutor | 1/7/2021 - 31/12/2021 |
Publications
For publications that are currently unpublished or in-press, details are shown in italics.
Journal article (11 outputs)
| Year | Citation | Altmetrics | Link | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 |
Carlson MA, Fradgley EA, Paul CL, 'Understanding experiences of cognitive decline and cognitive assessment from the perspectives of people with glioma and their caregivers: A qualitative interview study', International Journal of Nursing Studies Advances, 6 (2024) [C1] Background: Despite the impact of cognitive decline during brain cancer care, implementing routine cognitive assessment can be challenging. Effective implementation of cognitive a... [more] Background: Despite the impact of cognitive decline during brain cancer care, implementing routine cognitive assessment can be challenging. Effective implementation of cognitive assessment necessitates an understanding of implementation from the patient perspective. However, little is known about how people with glioma and their caregivers experience cognitive changes, assessment and support. Objective: To understand the lived experiences of changes in cognition for people with glioma and their caregivers including experiences of: i) perceived or objectively measured cognitive decline (or absence of decline); ii) cognitive assessment following diagnosis, and; iii) met and unmet cognition-related supportive care needs. Design: Semi-structured qualitative telephone interviews were conducted with people with gliomas and support persons and analysed using reflexive thematic analysis. Setting(s): Two Australian cancer services Participants: 18 people with glioma and caregivers Methods: Semi-structured qualitative telephone interviews were conducted with people with gliomas and caregivers and analysed using reflexive thematic analysis. Results: People with glioma (n = 5) and caregivers (n = 13) completed interviews. Four themes were identified: Cognition needs to be considered within the context of glioma diagnosis and treatment; concerns about cognition were initially subordinate to survival but become important; there are challenges identifying and communicating about people with gliomas¿ changes in cognition; cognition-related supportive care can be helpful but challenging for people with glioma and caregivers to identify and access. Conclusions: Changes to cognition can have considerable impacts of people with glioma and their caregivers which may be overshadowed by treatment and survival. A multi-disciplinary approach to timely cognitive screening, structured referral pathways, and communication with caregivers may provide opportunities for support. Registration: n/a Tweetable abstract: Identifying cognitive changes in people with glioma is important and challenging. A multidisciplinary approach and inclusion of care coordination and caregivers can help.
|
Nova | |||||||||
| 2023 |
Carlson MA, Fradgley EA, Yates D, Morris S, Tait J, Paul CL, 'Response to Gorter et al. regarding "Acceptability and feasibility of neurocognitive assessments with adults with primary brain cancer and brain metastases: A systematic review"', NEURO-ONCOLOGY PRACTICE, 10 493-494 (2023)
|
||||||||||
| 2023 |
Carlson MA, Fradgley EA, Yates D, Morris S, Tait J, Paul CL, 'Acceptability and feasibility of cognitive assessments with adults with primary brain cancer and brain metastasis: A systematic review', Neuro-Oncology Practice, 10 219-237 (2023) [C1]
|
Nova | |||||||||
| 2023 |
O'Neill CJ, Carlson MA, Rowe CW, Fradgley EA, Paul C, 'Hearing the Voices of Australian Thyroid Cancer Survivors: Qualitative Thematic Analysis of Semistructured Interviews Identifies Unmet Support Needs.', Thyroid : official journal of the American Thyroid Association, 33 1455-1464 (2023) [C1]
|
Nova | |||||||||
| 2023 |
Forbes E, Clover K, Baker AL, Britton B, Carlson M, McCarter K, ''Having the mask on didn't worry me until they clamped my head down so I wouldn't move': A qualitative study exploring anxiety in patients with head and neck cancer during radiation therapy.', J Med Radiat Sci, 70 283-291 (2023) [C1]
|
Nova | |||||||||
| 2023 |
O'Neill CJ, Morris-Baguley H, Alam AS, Carlson MA, Blefari N, Rowe CW, et al., 'Thyroid cancer patient reported outcome measures in clinical practice: analysing acceptability and optimizing recruitment.', ANZ J Surg, 93 2214-2221 (2023) [C1]
|
Nova | |||||||||
| 2022 |
Carlson MA, Fradgley EA, Bridge P, Taylor J, Morris S, Coutts E, Paul C, 'The dynamic relationship between cancer and employment-related financial toxicity: an in-depth qualitative study of 21 Australian cancer survivor experiences and preferences for support', SUPPORTIVE CARE IN CANCER, 30 3093-3103 (2022) [C1]
|
Nova | |||||||||
| 2022 |
Rose S, Boyes AW, Kelly B, Bridge P, Carlson M, Coutts E, Paul C, 'Antitobacco advertising and lung cancer stigma: a qualitative study of the experiences of people with a lung cancer diagnosis', Journal of Psychosocial Oncology Research & Practice, 4 e069-e069 (2022) [C1]
|
||||||||||
| 2021 |
McCarter K, Carlson MA, Baker AL, Paul CL, Lynam J, Johnston LN, Fradgley EA, 'A qualitative study investigating Australian cancer service outpatients' experience of distress screening and management: what is the personal relevance, acceptability and improvement opportunities from patient perspectives?', SUPPORTIVE CARE IN CANCER, 30 2693-2703 (2021) [C1]
|
Nova | |||||||||
| 2021 |
Carlson MA, Morris S, Day F, Dadich A, Ryan A, Fradgley EA, Paul C, 'Psychometric properties of leadership scales for health professionals: a systematic review', IMPLEMENTATION SCIENCE, 16 (2021) [C1]
|
Nova | |||||||||
| 2020 |
Carlson MA, Booth K, Byrnes E, Paul C, Fradgley EA, 'Pin-pointing service characteristics associated with implementation of evidence-based distress screening and management in australian cancer services: data from a crosssectional study', Journal of Psychosocial Oncology Research & Practice, 2 (2020) [C1]
|
Nova | |||||||||
| Show 8 more journal articles | |||||||||||
Conference (3 outputs)
| Year | Citation | Altmetrics | Link | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 |
Fradgley E, Carlson M, Taylor J, Bridge P, Morris S, Coutts E, Paul C, 'Experiences and implications of employment participation for people with a cancer diagnosis and their loved ones: a qualitative study', ASIA-PACIFIC JOURNAL OF CLINICAL ONCOLOGY (2020)
|
||||
| 2020 |
Fradgley E, Bridge P, Lane K, Spence D, Roach D, Carlson M, et al., 'Uptake of financial assistance via cancer information and support services: Experiences of distressed cancer patients and caregivers', ASIA-PACIFIC JOURNAL OF CLINICAL ONCOLOGY (2020)
|
||||
| 2018 |
McCarter K, Fradgley EA, Baker AL, Paul C, Carlson M, 'Distress Management for Patients with Cancer - Why Aren't We Doing It?', ASIA-PACIFIC JOURNAL OF CLINICAL ONCOLOGY (2018)
|
Grants and Funding
Summary
| Number of grants | 1 |
|---|---|
| Total funding | $5,000 |
Click on a grant title below to expand the full details for that specific grant.
20221 grants / $5,000
Brain cancer and cognitive decline: The acceptability of Cognitive Screening for Aboriginal peoples in New South Wales (NSW)$5,000
Funding body: White Coats Foundation
| Funding body | White Coats Foundation |
|---|---|
| Project Team | Associate Professor Michelle Kennedy, Ms Melissa Carlson, Doctor Liz Fradgley, Professor Christine Paul |
| Scheme | Power of One Grant |
| Role | Investigator |
| Funding Start | 2022 |
| Funding Finish | 2022 |
| GNo | G2200248 |
| Type Of Funding | C3200 – Aust Not-for Profit |
| Category | 3200 |
| UON | Y |
Ms Melissa Carlson
Positions
Research Associate
School of Medicine and Public Health
College of Health, Medicine and Wellbeing
Casual Academic
School of Humanities, Creative Ind and Social Sci
College of Human and Social Futures
Casual Research Assistant
School of Medicine and Public Health
College of Health, Medicine and Wellbeing
Contact Details
| melissa.carlson@newcastle.edu.au | |
| Phone | (02) 4042 0168 |
| Link |
Office
| Room | HMRI Building |
|---|---|
| Building | HMRI Building L4 West |
| Location | Callaghan University Drive Callaghan, NSW 2308 Australia |
