Staff Profile

Professor Helen Edwards has worked in tertiary education for 27 years and has been Head of the School of Nursing at QUT since 1997. Under her direction, the School has developed a leading reputation, nationally and internationally, and is known for its extensive range of courses, positive graduate outcomes, effective industry linkages, quality PhD program, and high research profile.

Professor Edwards’ own research has focused on clinical and educational interventions related to ageing and chronic disease. In particular Professor Edwards research interests include self management, wound healing, quality of life and family care giving as well as intervention trials. She has received significant funding, including NHMRC grants, to examine models of care for people with chronic leg ulcers, self management of chronic disease, family care-giving, resident-staff interactions, and the impact of quality of care on quality of life. From this, she has authored 80 refereed articles, seven book chapters, and 15 research reports. Professor Edwards co-edited the medical-surgical textbook that has been adopted by most Australian nursing schools (Brown, D., Edwards, H. (2007) Lewis’s Medical-Surgical Nursing: Assessment and Management of Clinical Problems. (2nd ed). Australia: Elsevier). She is also a Director of Queensland Villages, an organisation that manages three retirement villages in Queensland.

QUT ePrints
Electronic copies of selected academic papers by Professor Helen Edwards are available on the QUT ePrints web site.

Books

 

Brown, D. & Edwards, H. (2007). Lewis’s Medical-Surgical Nursing: Assessment and Management of Clinical Problems (2nd Ed). Australia: Elsevier.

Brown, D. & Edwards, H. (Eds) (2005). Lewis’s Medical-Surgical Nursing: Assessment and Management of Clinical Problems. Australia: Elsevier.

 

Book Chapters

 

Edwards, H., Finlayson, F., & Courtney, M. (2008). A community nursing model of care for people with chronic leg ulcers. In E. Lindsay  &  R. White (ed). Leg Ulcers and Problems of the Lower Limb: An holistic approach (pp. 64-79), London: Wounds UK Ltd.

McDowell, J, & Edwards, H. (2005). Instruments to measure health-related quality of life as a nursing outcome. In M. Courtney (Ed) Evidence for Nursing Practice. Australia: Elsevier.

Edwards, H. & Noller, P. (2002). Caregiving and its influence on marital interactions between older spouses. In P. Noller & J.A. Feeney (Eds), The Intricacies of Marital Interaction. Cambridge University Press.

Edwards, H. (2001). Family Caregiving, Communication and the Health of Care Receivers. In M.L. Hummert & J. Nussbaum (Eds). Aging, Communication and Health: Linking Research and Practice for Successful Aging. New Jersey: Lawrence Erlbaum.

Edwards, H. (1996). Older People. In M. Clinton & S. Nelson (Eds), Mental Health and Nursing Practice (pp. 275-291). Sydney: Prentice-Hall.

Mannion, J. & Edwards, H. (1996). Family Nursing. In M. Clinton & S. Nelson (Eds). Mental Health and Nursing Practice (pp. 229-249),Sydney: Prentice-Hall.

Nash, R. & Edwards, H. (1996). The Acute General Setting. In M. Clinton & S. Nelson (Eds), Mental Health and Nursing Practice (pp. 295-311) Sydney: Prentice-Hall.

 

Journal Articles – Refereed

 

Huang, M-F., Courtney, M., Edwards, H., McDowall, J. (In Press). Validation of the Chinese version of the Problem Areas in Diabetes (PAID-C) scale. Diabetes Care.

Finlayson, K., Edwards, H., Courtney, M.  (In Press).  The impact of psychosocial factors on adherence to compression therapy to present recurrence of venous leg ulcers.  Journal of Clinical Nursing. 

Edwards H., Courtney M., Finlayson K., Shuter P. & Lindsay E. (2009). Improved quality of life and healing for clients with chronic leg ulcers: A randomised controlled trial of a community nursing intervention. Journal of Clinical Nursing, 18, 1541–1549.

Finlayson, K., Edwards, H. & Courtney M. (2009). Factors associated with recurrence of venous leg ulcers: A survey and retrospective chart review. International Journal of Nursing Studies, 46(8), 1071–1078.

Graves, N., Courtney, M., Edwards, H., Chang, A., Parker, A. & Finlayson, K. (2009).  Cost-effectiveness of an intervention to reduce emergency readmissions to hospital among older patients.  PLoS ONE, 4(10): e7455  

Pan, I-Ju., Edwards, H. & Chang, A.M. (2009). Taiwanese nursing students’ attitudes toward older people. Journal of Gerontological Nursing, 35(10), 1-6.

Walsh, A., Edwards H., Fraser, J. (2009). Attitudes and subjective norms: determinants of parents’ intentions to reduce childhood fever with medications. Health Education Research, 24, 531-545. 

Courtney, M, O’Reilly, M, Edwards, H. & Hassall, S, (2009). The relationship between clinical outcomes and quality of life for residents of aged care facilities. Australian Journal of Advanced Nursing, 26(4) 49–57.

Courtney, M., Edwards H, Chang A, Parker A, Finlayson K, Hamilton K. (2009). Fewer emergency readmissions and better quality of life for older adults at high risk of hospital readmission: A randomised controlled trial. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, 5(3), 395–402.

Liu, Wen-I, Edwards H, Courtney, M. (2009). Review of continuing professional education in case management for nurses. Nurse Education Today.  29(5), 488-492.

Buys, L., Boulton-Lewis, G., Tedman-Jones, J., Edwards, H., Knox, M. & Bigby, C. (2008). Issues of active ageing: Perceptions of older people with lifelong intellectual disability. Australasian Journal on Ageing, 27(2), 67-71.

Edwards, H.,  Nash, R.,  Sacre, S., Courtney, M. & Abbey, J. (2008). Development of a virtual learning environment to enhance undergraduate nursing students' effectiveness and interest in working with older people. Nurse Education Today, 28(6), 672-679.

Liang, S., Yates, P., Edwards, H. & Tsay, S. (2008). Opioid-taking tasks and behaviours in Taiwanese outpatients with cancer. Journal of Clinical Nursing, 17(15), 2079-2088.

Liang, S., Yates, P., Edwards, H. & Tsay, S. (2008). Development and initial evaluation of reliability and validity of the opioid-taking self-efficacy scale. Oncology Nursing Forum, 35(4), E62-E69.

Liang, S., Yates, P., Edwards, H. & Tsay, S. (2008). Factors influencing opioid-taking self-efficacy and analgesic adherence in Taiwanese outpatients with cancer. Psycho-Oncology, 17(11), 1100-1107.

Liang, S., Yates, P., Edwards, H. & Tsay, S. (2008). Opioid-taking self-efficacy amongst Taiwanese outpatients with cancer. Supportive Care in Cancer, Published Online May 2008.

Liu, W., Edwards, H. & Courtney, M. (2008). Case management education in nursing. Hu Li Za Zhi (The Journal Of Nursing), 55(3), 81-86.

Walsh, A., Edwards, H. & Fraser, J. (2008). Attitudes and subjective norms: determinants of parents’ intentions to reduce childhood fever with medications. Health Education Research. 24(3), 531-545. 

Walsh, A., Edwards, H. & Fraser, J. (2008). Parents’ childhood fever management: community survey and instrument development. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 63(4), 376-388.

Wu, S., Courtney, M., Edwards, H., McDowell, J., Shortridge-Baggett, L. & Chang, P. (2008). Development and validation of the Chinese version of the Diabetes Management Self-efficacy Scale. International Journal of Nursing Studies, 45(4), 534-542.

Wu, S., Courtney, M., Edwards, H., McDowell, J., Shortridge-Baggett, L. & Chang, P. (2008). Psychometric properties of the Chinese version of the perceived therapeutic efficacy scale for type 2 diabetes. Journal of the Formosan Medical Association, 107(3), 232-238.

Courtney, M., O’Reilly, M., Edwards, H. & Hassall S. (2007). Development of a systematic approach to assessing quality within Australian residential aged care facilities: The Clinical Care Indicators (CCI) Tool. Australian Health Review, 31(4), 582-591.

Courtney, M., O'Reilly, M., Edwards, H. & Hassall, S. (2007). How is quality being monitored in Australian residential aged care facilities? A Narrative View. International Journal for Quality in Health Care, 19(3), 177-182.

Edwards, H., Walsh, A., Courtney, M., Monaghan, S., Wilson, J. & Young, J. (2007). Improving paediatric nurses’ knowledge and attitudes in childhood fever management. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 57(3), 257-269.

Edwards, H., Walsh, A., Courtney, M., Monaghan, S., Wilson, J. & Young, J. (2007). Promoting evidence-based childhood fever management through a peer education program based on the Theory of Planned Behaviour. Journal of Clinical Nursing, 16(10), 1966-79.

O’Reilly, M., Courtney, M. & Edwards, H. (2007). How is quality being monitored in Australian residential aged care facilities? A narrative review. International Journal of Quality Health Care, 19(3), 1-6.

Walsh, A., Edwards, H. & Fraser, J. (2007). Influences on parents’ fever management: beliefs, experiences and information sources. Journal of Clinical Nursing, 16(12), 2331-40.

Walsh, A., Edwards, H. & Fraser, J. (2007). Over-the-counter medication use for childhood fever: a cross-sectional study of Australian parents. Journal of Paediatrics and Child Health, 43(9), 601-606.

Wu, S.F., Courtney, M., Edwards, H., McDowell, J., Shortridge-Baggett, L.M. & Chang, P.J. (2007). Self-efficacy, outcome expectations, and self-care behaviour in people with type 2 diabetes in Taiwan’, Journal of Clinical Nursing, 16 (11c), 250 -7.

Gordon, L., Edwards, H., Courtney, M., Finlayson, K., Shuter, P. & Lindsay, E. (2006). A cost-effectiveness analysis of two community models of care for patients with venous leg ulcers. Journal of Wound Care, 15(8), 348-353.

Walsh, A. & Edwards, H. (2006). Management of childhood fever by parents: A literature review. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 54(2), 217-227.

Walsh, A., Edwards, H., Courtney, M., Wilson, J. & Monaghan, S. (2006). Paediatric fever management: Continuing education for clinical nurses. Nurse Education Today, 26, 71-77.

Wu, S.F., Courtney, M., Edwards, H., McDowell, J., Shortridge-Baggett, L. & Chang, P.J. (2006). Application of the self-efficacy model in nursing practice. Veteran General Hospital Nursing Journal, 23(2), 181-186.

Wu, S.F., Courtney, M., Edwards, H., Shortridge-Baggett, L., Chang, P.J. & Hong, S. T. (2006). Self-efficacy-enhancing exercise and example application for people with diabetes mellitus. Formosan Journal of Medicine, 10(1), 115-122.

Edwards, H., Courtney, M., Finlayson, K., Lewis. C., Lindsay, E. & Dumble, J. (2005). Improved healing rates for chronic venous leg ulcers: Pilot study results from a randomised controlled trial of a community nursing intervention. International Journal of Nursing Practice, 11(4), 169-176.

McDowell, J., Courtney, M., Edwards, H., & Shortridge-Baggett, L. (2005). Validation of the Australian/English version of the Diabetes Management Self-Efficacy Scale. International Journal of Nursing Practice, 11(4), 177-184.

Walsh, A., Edwards, H., Courtney, M., Wilson, J. & Monaghan, S. (2005). Fever Management: Paediatric nurses’ knowledge, attitudes and influencing factors. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 49(5), 452-464.

Aranda, S., Yates, P., Nash, R., Edwards, H., Sherman, H. & McCarthy, A. (2004). Barriers to effective cancer pain management: A survey of Australian family caregivers. European Journal of Cancer Care, 13(4), 336-343.

Armstrong, K. & Edwards, H. (2004). The effectiveness of a pram-walking exercise programme in reducing depressive symptomatology for postnatal women. International Journal of Nursing Practice. 10(4), 177-194.

Edwards, H. & Chapman, H. (2004). Caregiver-care receiver communication Part 2: Overcoming the influence of stereotypical role expectations. Quality in Ageing: Policy, Practice and Research. 5(3), 3-13.

Edwards, H. & Chapman, H. (2004). Communication in family aged care dyads, Part 1: The influence of stereotypical role expectations. Quality in Ageing: Policy, Practice and Research. 5(2), 3-12.

Edwards, H., Smith, S., Courtney, M., Finlayson, K. & Chapman, H. (2004). The impact of clinical placement location on nursing students' competence and preparedness for practice. Nurse Education Today, 24(4), 248-255.

Yates, P., Aranda, S., Edwards, H., Nash, R. & Skerman, H. (2004). A randomized trial of a nurse administered educational intervention for improving cancer pain management in ambulatory settings. Journal of Patient Education and Counselling, 53, 227-237.

Yates, P., Aranda, S., Edwards, H., Nash, R., Sherman, H. & McCarthy, A. (2004). Family caregivers’ experiences and involvement with cancer pain management. Journal of Palliative Care, 20(4), 287-296.

Armstrong, K. & Edwards, H. (2003). The effects of exercise and social support on mothers reporting depressive symptoms: A pilot randomized controlled trial. International Journal of Mental Health Nursing, 12, 130-138.

Courtney, M., Edwards, H., Stephan, J., O’Reilly, M. & Duggan, C. (2003). Quality of life measures for residents of aged care facilities: A literature review. Australasian Journal on Ageing, 22(2), 58-64.

Davis, L, Edwards, H. & Mohay, H. (2003) Mother-infant interaction in premature infants at three months after nursery discharge. International Journal of Nursing Practice, 9, 374-381.

Davis, L., Edwards, H., Mohay, H. & Wollin, J. (2003). The course of depression in mothers of premature infants in hospital and at home. Australian Journal of Advanced Nursing, 21(2), 20-26.

Davis, L., Edwards, H., Mohay, H. & Wollin, J. (2003). The impact of very premature birth on the psychological health of mothers. Early Human Development, 73(10), 61-70.

Davis, L., Mohay, H. & Edwards, H. (2003). An historical overview of mothers involvement in caring for their premature infants. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 42(6), 578-586.

Edwards, H., Chapman, H., Forster, E., Gaskill, D., Morrison, P. & Sanders, F. (2003). Challenges associated with implementing an education program in a residential aged care setting. Australian Health Review, 26(3), 107-115.

Edwards, H., Courtney, M. & O’Reilly, M. (2003). Involving older people in research to examine quality of life in residential aged care. Quality in Ageing: Policy, Practice and Research, 4(4), 38-42.

Edwards, H., Courtney, M. & Spencer, L. (2003). Consumer expectations of residential care: Reflections on existing research. International Journal of Nursing Practice, 9, 70-77.

Edwards, H., Courtney, M. & Spencer, L. (2003). Development and evaluation of a consumer’s guide to residential aged care. Australian Health Review, 26(1), 145-152.

Edwards, H., Gaskill, D., Sanders, F., Forster, E., Morrison, P., Fleming, R., McClure, S. & Chapman, H. (2003). Resident-staff interactions: A challenge for quality residential aged care. Australasian Journal on Ageing, 22(1), 31-37.

Gaskill, D., Morrison, P., Sanders, F., Forster, E., Edwards, H., McClure, S. & Fleming, R. (2003). University and industry partnerships: Lessons from collaborative research. International Journal of Nursing Practice, 9(6), 347-355.

Sahar, J., Courtney, M. & Edwards, H. (2003). Improvement of family carers’ knowledge, skills and attitudes in caring for older people following the implementation of a family carers’ training program in the community in Indonesia. International Journal of Nursing Practice, 9(4) 246-254.

Courtney. M., Edwards, H., Smith, S. & Finlayson, K. (2002). The Impact of a rural clinical placement on student nurses employment intentions. Collegian, 9(1), 12-18.

Edwards, H., Chapman, H. & Davis, L. (2002). Utilisation of research evidence by nurses. Nursing and Health Sciences, 4(3), 89-95.

Moyle, W., Edwards, H. & Clinton, M. (2002). Living with loss: Dementia and the family caregiver. Australian Journal of Advanced Nursing, 19(3), 25-31.

Yates, P., Edwards, H., Nash, R., Walsh, A., Fentiman, B., McDowell, J., Skerman, H. & Najman, J. (2002). Barriers to Effective Cancer Pain Management: A Survey of Hospitalized Cancer Patients in Australia. Journal of Pain and Symptom Management, 23(5), 393-405.

Edwards, H., Chapman, H. & Nash, R. (2001). Evaluating student learning: an Australian case study. Nursing and Health Sciences, 3(4), 197-203.

Edwards, H., Courtney, M., Wilson, J., Monaghan, K. & Walsh, A. (2001). Fever Management Practices: What paediatric nurses say. Nursing and Health Sciences, 3(3), 119-130.

Edwards, H., Nash, R., Najman, J., Yates, P., Fentiman, B., Dewar, A., Walsh, A., McDowell, J. & Skerman, H. (2001) Determinants of Nurses’ Intention to Administer Opioids for Pain Relief. Nursing and Health Sciences, 3(3), 149-159.

Edwards, H., Nash, R., Yates, P., Walsh, A., Fentiman, B., McDowell, J., Skerman, H. & Najman, J. (2001). Improving pain management by nurses: A pilot Peer Intervention Program. Nursing and Health Sciences, 3, 35-45.

Smith, S., Edwards, H., Courtney, M. & Finlayson, K. (2001). Factors influencing student nurses in their choice of a rural clinical placement site. Rural and Remote Health, 1, 89.

Hart, G., Clinton, M., Edwards, H., Evans, K., Lunney, P., Posner, N., Tooth, B., Weir, D., & Ryan, Y. (2000) Accelerated Professional Development and Peer Consultation: Two strategies for continuing professional education for nurses. Journal of Continuing Education in Nursing, 31(1), 28-37.

Aspland, T., Edwards, H., O’Leary, J. & Ryan, Y. (1999). Tracking new directions in the evaluation of postgraduate supervision. Innovative Higher Education, 24(2), 127-147.

Edwards, H., & Forster, E. M. (1999). Avoidance of issues in family care giving. Contemporary Nurse, 8(2), 5-13.

Nash, R., Yates. P., Edwards, H., Fentiman, B., Dewar, A., McDowell, J. & Clark, R. (1999). Pain and the administration of analgesia: What nurses say. Journal of Clinical Nursing, 8, 180-189.

Clinton, M., Lunney, P., Edwards, H., Weir, D., & Barr, J. (1998). Perceived social support and community adaptation in schizophrenia. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 27(5), 955-965.

Edwards, H., & Giles, H. (1998). Prologue on two dimensions: The risk and management of intergenerational miscommunication. Journal of Applied Communication Research, 26(1), 1-12.

Edwards, H., & Noller, P. (1998). Factors influencing caregiver-care receiver communication and its impact on the well-being of older care receivers. Health Communication, 10(4), 317-341.

Edwards, H., Nash, R. & Gaskill, D. (1998). Treating skin tears in nursing home residents: A pilot study comparing four types of dressing. International Journal of Nursing Practice, 4(1), 25-32.

Yates, P., Dewar, A., Edwards, H., Fentiman, B., Nash, R., Richardson, V., & Fraser, J. (1998). The prevalence and perceptions of pain among hospitalised patients. Journal of Clinical Nursing, 7, 521-530.

Nash, R., Fentiman, B., Richardson, V., Yates, P., & Edwards, H. (1996). Leg ulcers - Reflections on Practice. Primary Intention, 4(4), 10-16.

Clinton, M., Moyle, W., Weir, D. & Edwards, H. (1995). Perceptions of stressors and reported coping strategies in nurses caring for residents with Alzheimer's disease in a dementia unit. Australian & New Zealand Journal of Mental Health Nursing, 4(1), 5-13.

Edwards, H. (1995). Communication predicaments of older health care consumers: What can 'we' do about it? Social Alternatives, 14(2), 33-36.

Edwards, H. & Noller, P. (1993). Perceptions of over accommodation used by nurses in communication with the elderly. Journal of Language and Social Psychology, 12(3), 207-233.

Nash, R., Edwards, H. & Nebauer, M. (1993). Effect of attitudes, subjective norms and perceived control on nurses' intention to assess patients' pain. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 18, 941-947.

 

Research Reports

 

Edwards, H., Courtney, M., Lindsay, E., Lewis, C. & Finlayson, K. (2005). A Randomised Controlled Trial of Nursing Interventions for Managing Patients with Chronic Venous Leg Ulcers. Final report. Report prepared for Queensland Nursing Council.

Edwards, H., Courtney, M., Nash, R. & Finlayson, K. (2004). Aged Care Core Component in Undergraduate Nursing Curricula – Principles Paper. Report prepared for the Commonwealth Department of Health and Ageing, Canberra, 37 pages, ISBN: 1741070538M.

Edwards, H., Courtney, M., Nash, R. & Finlayson, K. (2004). Development of a proposal to coordinate initiatives identified to support the adoption of the Aged Care Core Component in Undergraduate Nursing Curricula Principles Paper. Report prepared for the Department of Health and Ageing. Canberra: Australia.

Clare, J., Brown, D., Edwards, H. & Van Loon, A. (2003). Evaluating clinical learning environments: Creating education-practice partnerships and benchmarks for nursing. Report prepared for Australian Universities Teaching Committee, Flinders University: Australia.

Clare, J., White, J, Edwards, H. & Van Loon, A. (2003). Curriculum, clinical education, recruitment, transition and retention in nursing. Report prepared for Australian Universities Teaching Committee. Flinders University: Australia.

 

 

Projects / Grants

• (2009-2010)  Pathways to healing: determining effective care pathways for chronic wounds for timely  healing, prevention and cost effectiveness, Australian Research Council Linkage
• (2009-2010)  Online Geriatric Assessment, National Health and Medical Research Council.
• (2008-2012) Preventing hospital readmissions and loss of functional ability in high risk older adults: a randomised controlled trial, Australian Research Council
• (2008-2010)  Creating Champions for Skin Integrity – Encouraging Best Practice in Residential Aged Care, Australian Government, Department of Health and Ageing.
• (2007 - 2010) Can a palliative care framework ameliorate complicated grief and improve medium term health outcomes in carers of people at the terminal stage of a dementing illness, Alzheimer’s Australia Research (Scholarship)

Industry Research Activities

• (2008 -2012)  Strategic Development of nursing through nurse education in Viet Nam,  Atlantic Philanthropies
• (2009) Wound Healing Outreach Program,  QUT Engagement Innovation Fund
• (2007- 2008)  Wound Healing Community Outreach Service Project,  Cecilia Kilkeary Foundation

Principal Supervisor

 

• Identification of factors contributing to recurrent chronic venous leg ulcers
• Measuring the Effect of an Emergency Department (ED) Information Guide on Patients' Expectations and Satisfaction
• A quantitative analysis of a progressive 12-week exercise programme for patients with venous leg ulcers: a randomised study
• Predictors of complicated grief and health outcomes in family caregivers of people with dementia
• Well-being Outcomes of Adult-Child Caregivers Caring for Parents with Dementia in China: Rural versus Ubran Settings
• Measurement and Correlates of Caregiver Self-efficacy and Outcome Expectations amongst family caregivers of People with Dementia in China

 

Associate Supervisor

 

• Resilience in chronic disease: The relationships among risk factors, protective factors, adaptive outcomes and the level of resilience in adults with diabetes
• Clinical indicators of quality for Australian residential aged care facilities: Establishing reliability, validity, and quality thresholds