Dr Rebecca Packer
Senior Lecturer
School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences
Researcher biography
Dr Rebecca Packer is a Senior Lecturer and Early Career Researcher in the School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences, Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences. She is an affiliate of the Centre for Functioning and Health Research (CFAHR). Dr Packer has attracted over 2.2M in research funding and published over 30 research articles and book chapters with her main focus on the impacts of swallowing disorders in head and neck cancer on survivors and their families. She has a special interest in qualitative research and the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health. Dr Packer teaches across all years of the Undergraduate and Graduate Entry Master's Speech Pathology Program.
Publications
Book Chapters
Haas, Romi, Bennett, Sally, Abell, Bridget, Bennett, John, Bogossian, Fiona, Causby, Ryan, Devenish, Anthony Scott, Ee, Carolyn, Forbes, Roma, Packer, Rebecca and Wilkinson, Shelly (2024). Understanding evidence from qualitative research: examples of assessment of quality (critical appraisal) from different health professions. Evidence-based practice across the health professions. (pp. 206-252) edited by Tammy Hoffmann, Sally Bennett and Chris Del Mar. Chatswood, NSW Australia: Elsevier.
Bennett, Sally, Abell, Bridget, Bennett, John, Bogossian, Fiona, Ee, Carolyn, Jennings, Paul, Nissen, Lisa, Nund, Rebecca and Williams, Cylie (2017). Understanding evidence from qualitative research: examples of assessment of quality (critical appraisal) from different health professions. Evidence based practice across the health professions. (pp. 248-291) edited by Tammy Hoffman, Sally Bennett and Chris Del Mar. Chatswood, NSW, Australia: Elsevier.
Nund, Rebecca L., Scarinci, Nerina A., Cartmill, Bena and Ward, Elizabeth C. (2015). Dysphagia and the family. Seminars in Dysphagia. (pp. 159-175) edited by Renee Speyer and Hans Bogaardt. Rijeka, Croatia: InTech - Open Access Publisher. doi: 10.5772/58665
Cartmill, Bena, Nund, Rebecca L. and Ward, Elizabeth C. (2014). Managing survivorship: issues for the patient and carer. Head and Neck Cancer: Treatment, Rehabilitation and Outcomes. (pp. 525-539) edited by Elizabeth C. Ward and Corina J. van as Brooks. San Diege, CA, United States: Plural Publishing.
Journal Articles
Kefford, Jennifer, Marshall, Jeanne, Packer, Rebecca L. and Ward, Elizabeth C. (2024). Feeding characteristics in children with food allergies: a scoping review. Journal of Speech, Language, and Hearing Research, 67 (1), 132-148. doi: 10.1044/2023_jslhr-23-00303
Al Babtain, Jumanah, Packer, Rebecca L., Nickbakht, Mansoureh and Scarinci, Nerina A. (2024). Early detection and intervention services for children with hearing loss in Western and South Asian developing countries: a scoping review. Speech, Language and Hearing, 27 (1), 20-31. doi: 10.1080/2050571X.2023.2220544
Reilly, Claire, Marshall, Jeanne, Packer, Rebecca and Thapar, Nikhil (2023). Do we do what we say? Temporary tube feeding management in children. Clinical Nutrition ESPEN, 58, 756-756. doi: 10.1016/j.clnesp.2023.10.026
Foley, Jasmine, Wishart, Laurelie R., Ward, Elizabeth C., Burns, Clare L., Packer, Rebecca L., Philpot, Shoni, Kenny, Lizbeth M. and Stevens, Maurice (2023). Exploring the impact of remoteness on people with head and neck cancer: Utilisation of a state‐wide dataset. Australian Journal of Rural Health, 31 (4), 726-743. doi: 10.1111/ajr.13005
Checklin, Martin, O'Halloran, Robyn, Foster, Abby M., Hutchison, Alana, Wilson, Thomas, Bowen, Alanna, Vat, Laura, Lawson, Nadine, Lenne, Priscilla and Packer, Rebecca L. (2023). The health care experiences of people with head and neck cancer: a scoping review. Head and Neck, 46 (1), 74-85. doi: 10.1002/hed.27558
Longo, Christopher J., Gordon, Louisa G., Nund, Rebecca L., Hart, Nicolas H., Teleni, Laisa, Thamm, Carla, Hollingdrake, Olivia, Crawford-Williams, Fiona, Koczwara, Bogda, Ownsworth, Tamara, Born, Stephen, Schoonbeek, Sue, Stone, Leanne, Barrett, Christie and Chan, Raymond J. (2022). Clinical management of financial toxicity–identifying opportunities through experiential insights of cancer survivors, caregivers, and social workers. Current Oncology, 29 (10), 7705-7717. doi: 10.3390/curroncol29100609
Foley, Jasmine, Ward, Elizabeth C., Burns, Clare L., Nund, Rebecca L., Wishart, Laurelie R., Graham, Nicky, Patterson, Corey, Ashley, Amy, Fink, Julie, Tiavaasue, Emily and Comben, Wendy (2022). Enhancing speech-language pathology head and neck cancer service provision in rural Australia: using a plan, do, study, act approach. International Journal of Speech-Language Pathology, 25 (2), 1-14. doi: 10.1080/17549507.2022.2050300
Nund, Rebecca L. and Brown, Bena (2022). Caregiver Burden in Head and Neck Cancer Dysphagia Cases. Perspectives of the ASHA Special Interest Groups, 7 (3), 1-6. doi: 10.1044/2022_persp-21-00313
Foley, Jasmine, Nund, Rebecca L., Ward, Elizabeth C., Burns, Clare L., Wishart, Laurelie R., Graham, Nicky, Patterson, Corey, Ashley, Amy, Fink, Julie, Tiavaasue, Emily and Comben, Wendy (2022). Clinician and consumer perceptions of head and neck cancer services in rural areas: implications for speech pathology service delivery. Australian Journal of Rural Health, 30 (2), 175-187. doi: 10.1111/ajr.12829
Foley, Jasmine, Burns, Clare L., Ward, Elizabeth C., Nund, Rebecca L., Wishart, Laurelie R., Kenny, Lizbeth M. and Stevens, Maurice (2022). Post-acute health care needs of people with head and neck cancer: Mapping health care services, experiences, and the impact of rurality. Head and Neck, 44 (6), 1377-1392. doi: 10.1002/hed.27037
Hutchison, Alana, Nund, Rebecca Louise, Brown, Bena, Ward, Elizabeth C. and Wishart, Laurelie (2021). Using dosimetric information to guide dysphagia management in patients with head and neck cancer: clinicians’ knowledge and experiences. International Journal of Speech-Language Pathology, 24 (4), 1-10. doi: 10.1080/17549507.2021.1984578
Wishart, Laurelie R., Harris, Grace B., Cassim, Nabeela, Alimin, Stephanie, Liao, Ting, Brown, Bena, Ward, Elizabeth C. and Nund, Rebecca L. (2021). Association between objective ratings of swallowing and dysphagia-specific quality of life in patients receiving (chemo)radiotherapy for oropharyngeal cancer. Dysphagia, 37 (4), 1014-1021. doi: 10.1007/s00455-021-10364-7
Foley, Jasmine, Ward, Elizabeth C., Burns, Clare L., Nund, Rebecca L., Wishart, Laurelie, Graham, Nicky, Patterson, Corey, Ashley, Amy, Fink, Julie, Tiavaasue, Emily and Comben, Wendy (2021). Speech pathology service enhancement for people with head and neck cancer living in rural areas: Using a concept mapping approach to inform service change. Head and Neck, 43 (11), 3504-3521. doi: 10.1002/hed.26850
Thamm, Carla, Fox, Jennifer, Hart, Nicolas H., Rhee, Joel, Koczwara, Bogda, Emery, Jon, Milley, Kristi, Nund, Rebecca L. and Chan, Raymond J. (2021). Exploring the role of general practitioners in addressing financial toxicity in cancer patients. Supportive Care in Cancer, 30 (1), 457-464. doi: 10.1007/s00520-021-06420-5
Chan, Raymond Javan, Emery, Jon, Cuff, Katharine, Teleni, Laisa, Simonsen, Camilla, Turner, Jane, Janda, Monika, Mckavanagh, Daniel, Jones, Lee, McKinnell, Emma, Gosper, Melissa, Ryan, Juanita, Joseph, Ria, Crowe, Bethany, Harvey, Jennifer, Ryan, Marissa, Carrington, Christine, Nund, Rebecca, Crichton, Megan and McPhail, Steven (2020). Implementing a nurse-enabled, integrated, shared-care model involving specialists and general practitioners in breast cancer post-treatment follow-up: a study protocol for a phase II randomised controlled trial (the EMINENT trial). Trials, 21 (1) 855, 855. doi: 10.1186/s13063-020-04740-1
Wishart, Laurelie R., Brown, Bena, Nund, Rebecca L., Fotinos, Elena, Hutchison, Alana R., Ward, Elizabeth C. and Porceddu, Sandro V. (2020). A prospective study monitoring carer distress during (chemo)radiotherapy for head and neck cancer via an electronic platform. Journal of Medical Radiation Sciences, 68 (2) jmrs.448, 139-148. doi: 10.1002/jmrs.448
Dawson, Camilla, Roe, Justin, Starmer, Heather, Brady, Grainne, Nund, Rebecca, Coffey, Margaret, Govender, Roganie, Patterson, Jo M., Nankivell, Paul, Topping, Annie, Sharma, Neil, Parmar, Sat, Elkington, Chris, Merrit, Malcolm, Stanbury, David and Pracy, Paul (2020). Patient advocacy in head and neck cancer: Realities, challenges and the role of the multi-disciplinary team. Clinical Otolaryngology, 45 (4) coa.13508, 437-444. doi: 10.1111/coa.13508
Wall, Laurelie R., Nund, Rebecca L., Ward, Elizabeth C., Cornwell, Petrea L. and Amsters, Delena I. (2020). Experiences of communication changes following spinal cord injury: a qualitative analysis. Disability and Rehabilitation, 42 (16), 2271-2278. doi: 10.1080/09638288.2018.1557264
Nund, Rebecca Louise, Brown, Bena, Ward, Elizabeth Celeste, Maclean, Julia, Roe, Justin, Patterson, Joanne M. and Martino, Rosemary (2019). What are we really measuring? A content comparison of swallowing outcome measures for head and neck cancer based on the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF). Dysphagia, 34 (4), 575-591. doi: 10.1007/s00455-019-10005-0
Chan, Karen M. K., Chan, Herman K. W., Siu, Jerry Y. L., Pu, Dai, Nund, Rebecca L. and Ward, Elizabeth C. (2019). Impact of head and neck cancer treatment on survivors' mealtime experience. Laryngoscope, 129 (7), 1572-1578. doi: 10.1002/lary.27501
Barnhart, Molly K., Ward, Elizabeth C., Cartmill, Bena, Nund, Rebecca, Robinson, Rachelle A., Chandler, Sophie J. and Smee, Robert I. (2018). Content analysis of rehabilitation goals for patients following non-surgical head and neck cancer treatment. Supportive Care in Cancer, 27 (2), 639-647. doi: 10.1007/s00520-018-4364-1
Turkington, Leisa, Nund, Rebecca L., Ward, Elizabeth C. and Farrell, Anna (2016). Exploring current sensory enhancement practices within videofluoroscopic swallow study (VFSS) clinics. Dysphagia, 32 (2), 1-11. doi: 10.1007/s00455-016-9747-1
Nund, Rebecca, Ward, Elizabeth, Scarinci, Nerina and Cartmill, Bena (2015). The value of qualitative research in dysphagia in the head and neck cancer population: What can we learn from the survivors' perspective?. Perspectives on Swallowing and Swallowing Disorders, 24 (3), 99-106. doi: 10.1044/sasd24.3.99
Nund, Rebecca L., Scarinci, Nerina A., Cartmill, Bena, Ward, Elizabeth C., Kuipers, Pim and Porceddu, Sandro V. (2015). Third-party disability in carers of people with dysphagia following non-surgical management for head and neck cancer. Disability and Rehabilitation, 38 (5), 462-471. doi: 10.3109/09638288.2015.1046563
Ward, Elizabeth C., Hill, Anne E., Nund, Rebecca L., Rumbach, Anna F., Walker-Smith, Katie, Wright, Sarah E., Kelly, Kris and Dodrill, Pamela (2015). Developing clinical skills in paediatric dysphagia management using human patient simulation (HPS). International Journal of Speech-Language Pathology, 17 (3), 230-240. doi: 10.3109/17549507.2015.1025846
Nund, Rebecca L., Rumbach, Anna F., Debattista, Bridget C., Goodrow, Martha N. T., Johnson, Kori A., Tupling, Laura N., Scarinci, Nerina A., Cartmill, Bena, Ward, Elizabeth C. and Porceddu, Sandro V. (2015). Communication changes following non-glottic head and neck cancer management: The perspectives of survivors and carers. International Journal of Speech-Language Pathology, 17 (3), 263-272. doi: 10.3109/17549507.2015.1010581
Nund, Rebecca, Scarinci, Nerina, Cartmill, Bena, Ward, Elizabeth, Kuipers, Pim and Porceddu, Sandro (2014). Application of the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) to people with dysphagia following non-surgical head and neck cancer management.. Dysphagia, 29 (6), 692-703. doi: 10.1007/s00455-014-9563-4
Nund, Rebecca L., Ward, Elizabeth C., Scarinci, Nerina A., Cartmill, Bena, Kuipers, Pim and Porceddu, Sandro V. (2014). Carers' experiences of dysphagia in people treated for head and neck cancer: a qualitative study. Dysphagia, Online First (4), 1-9. doi: 10.1007/s00455-014-9527-8
Nund, Rebecca L., Ward, Elizabeth C., Scarinci, Nerina A., Cartmill, Bena, Kuipers, Pim and Porceddu, Sandro V (2014). The lived experience of dysphagia following non-surgical treatment for head and neck cancer. International Journal of Speech-Language Pathology, 16 (3), 282-289. doi: 10.3109/17549507.2013.861869
Nund, Rebecca L., Ward, Elizabeth C., Scarinci, Nerina A., Cartmill, Bena, Kuipers, Pim and Porceddu, Sandro V. (2014). Survivors' experiences of dysphagia-related services following head and neck cancer: implications for clinical practice. International Journal of Language and Communication Disorders, 49 (3), 354-363. doi: 10.1111/1460-6984.12071
Cartmill, Bena, Cornwell, Petrea, Ward, Elizabeth, Davidson, Wendy, Nund, Rebecca, Bettington, Catherine, Rahbari, Reza Masoud, Poulsen, Michael and Porceddu, Sandro (2013). Emerging understanding of dosimetric factors impacting on dysphagia and nutrition following radiotherapy for oropharyngeal cancer. Head and Neck, 35 (8), 1211-1219. doi: 10.1002/hed.23040
Conference Papers
AlBabtain, Jumanah, Nickbakht, Mansoureh, Packer, Rebecca and Scarinci, Nerina (2023). Families’ and Professionals' Perspectives of Early Intervention Services for Children with Hearing Loss in Kuwait. 2023 ASHA Convention, Boston, MA, United States, 16-18 November 2023.
Foley, Jasmine, Ward, Elizabeth C., Wishart, Laurelie, Burns, Clare, Nund, Rebecca, Graham, Nicky, Patterson, Corey, Ashley, Amy, Fink, Julie, Tiavaasue, Emily and Comben, Wendy (2022). Enhancing access to speech pathology services for rural patients with Head and Neck Cancer. COSA's 49th Annual Scientific Meeting Equitable cancer care for all: Gender, identity, culture, geography, and disease should not matter, Brisbane, QLD, Australia, 2 - 4 November 2022. Chichester, West Sussex, United Kingdom: Wiley-Blackwell Publishing.
Wall, Laurelie, Cartmill, Bena, Ward, Elizabeth, Hill, Anne J., Nund, Rebecca L., Hutchison, Alana, Isenring, Elizabeth, Byrnes, Joshua, Chambers, Suzanne, Dunn, Jeff, Nixon, Jodie and Porceddu, Sandro V. (2016). Prevalence of mealtime-specific distress in carers of head/neck cancer patients receiving (chemo) radiotherapy. Dysphagia Research Society, Tucson, AZ United States, 25-27 February 2016. Springer.
Ward, Elizabeth, Hill, Anne E., Nund, Rebecca, Dodrill, Pamela, Walker-Smith, Katie, Rumbach, Anna, Wright, Sarah and Kelly, Kristine (2014). Using patient simulation (HPS) for development of technical and non-technical skills for dysphagia management. In: Dysphagia Research Society Annual Meeting and Post-Graduate Course. Dysphagia Research Society Annual Meeting and Post-Graduate Course, Tennessee, United States, (779-780). 5–8 March 2014.
Nund, Rebecca, Ward, Elizabeth, Scarinci, Nerina, Cartmill, Bena, Kuipers, Pim and Porceddu, Sandro (2012). Living with dysphagia: insights and implications for Speech Pathology Services for patients in the Survivorship Phase of head and neck cancer. COSA 39th Annual Scientific Meeting and IPOS 14th World Congress of Psycho–Oncology, Brisbane QLD, Australia, 13-15 November 2012. West Sussex, United Kingdom: Wiley-Blackwell Publishing.
Research Report
Speech Pathology Austarlia, Whitehead, Andrea, Torresi, Kym, Johnson, Trish, Dutton, Bernadette, Harrison, Chantal, Kinks, Alanna, Earle, David, Krikheli, Lillian, Nund, Rebecca, Pearse, Wendy, Radford, Claire, Smart, Sharon and Thermos, Stephanie (2019). The Role of the Speech Pathologist in Supporting Informed Choice and Shared Decision Making in Dysphagia. Melbourne, VIC Australia: Speech Pathology Association of Australia.
Thesis
Nund, Rebecca Louise (2014). Dysphagia following non-surgical management for head and neck cancer: Using the ICF to explore the rehabilitation needs of survivors and their carers. PhD Thesis, School of Health & Rehabilitation Sciences, The University of Queensland. doi: 10.14264/uql.2014.266