Dr Amanda Pigott
Casual Academic & Honorary Research Fellow
School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences
Researcher biography
Amanda Pigott (BOccThy, PhD) is an occupational therapist with over 20 years' experience in oedema and lymphoedema management. Amanda has a bachelor's degree in occupational therapy and a PhD obtained studying the side effects of cancer treatment. Amanda is passionate about improving oedema management. To progress this passion, she actively works as a specialist clinician, is a key researcher in the field of lymphoedema and delivers education through training and conference presentations.
- As a clinician, Amanda works in the public sector as a clinical specialist at the Princess Alexandra Hospital cancer-related lymphoedema clinic.
- As a researcher, Amanda holds a position as an honorary research fellow at the University of Queensland. She has been involved in research projects securing over $590, 000 in research funding through competitive grants. As a researcher, Amanda ranks in the top 2.5% of published authors worldwide on lymphoedema from 2013 through 2023 (expertscape.com)
- As an educator, Amanda has been delivering oedema management training since 2012. She has provided training to public and private organisations. Her training is regularly delivered via Occupational Therapy Australia. Amanda also delivers lectures and tutorials to undergraduate Occupational Therapy students addressing the occupational therapy role in cancer care, palliative care and management of complex conditions.
Amanda was awarded the Contribution to Lymphology Research award from the Australasian Lymphology Association in 2019 in recognition of conducting, publishing and presenting lymphoedema related research to promote or support evidence based practice in the prevention, detection, diagnosis and management of lymphoedema. She was awarded the Dr Dorothea Sandars and Irene Lee Churchill Fellowship to study techniques in head and neck lymphoedema assessment and treatment methods.
Amanda is an active member of the Australasian Lymphology Association through her roles on the research committee and conference scientific committees. Most recently, Amanda was appointed as the chair of the 2024 scientific committee.
Book Chapter
Purcell, Amanda and Turner, Jane (2014). Associated morbidities affecting quality of life in patients treated with head and neck cancer. Head and Neck Cancer: Treatment Rehabilitation and Outcomes. (pp. 507-524) edited by Elizabeth C. Ward and Corina J. van as Brooks. San Diego, CA, USA: Plural Publishing.
Journal Articles
Pigott, Amanda, Suami, Hiroo, McCann, Andrew and Trevethan, Megan (2023). Lymphatic drainage patterns in head and neck lymphoedema: a preliminary imaging study with indocyanine green lymphography. Journal of Lymphoedema, 18 (1), 28-33.
Trevethan, Megan, Patterson, Freyr, Doig, Emmah and Pigott, Amanda (2023). Indocyanine green lymphography in conservative lymphedema therapy: a scoping review. Rehabilitation Oncology, 41 (4), 180-190. doi: 10.1097/01.reo.0000000000000347
Pitt, Rachael, Hutchison, Alana, Pigott, Amanda and Brown, Bena (2023). Safety and acceptability of a modified swallowing impairment screening assessment via nasendoscopy following head and neck cancer treatment: a feasibility study. Speech, Language and Hearing 2248696. doi: 10.1080/2050571x.2023.2248696
Jeans, Claire, Brown, Bena, Ward, Elizabeth C., Vertigan, Anne E., Pigott, Amanda E., Nixon, Jodie L., Wratten, Chris and Boggess, May (2023). A prospective, longitudinal and exploratory study of head and neck lymphoedema and dysphagia following chemoradiotherapy for head and neck cancer. Dysphagia, 38 (4), 1059-1071. doi: 10.1007/s00455-022-10526-1
Pigott, Amanda, Brown, Bena, White, Nicole, McPhail, Steven, Porceddu, Sandro, Liu, Howard, Jeans, Claire, Panizza, Ben and Nixon, Jodie (2022). A prospective observational cohort study examining the development of head and neck lymphedema from the time of diagnosis. Asia-Pacific Journal of Clinical Oncology, 19 (4), 473-481. doi: 10.1111/ajco.13843
Trevethan, Megan, Bennett, Sally, Doig, Emmah, Patterson, Freyr and Pigott, Amanda (2022). Navigating the application of new innovations: Establishing an indocyanine green lymphography clinic in Australia. Health and Social Care in the Community, 30 (6), e5549-e5559. doi: 10.1111/hsc.13979
Pigott, A., Patterson, F., Birch, S., Oakley, P., Doig, E. and Impact of SRSD of Groups Placement Project Team (2022). The health service impact of an occupational therapy practice placement model: Student-resourced service delivery of groups. Focus On Health Professional Education, 23 (2), 21-34. doi: 10.11157/fohpe.v23i2.525
Pigott, Amanda, Patterson, Freyr, Prescott, Sarah, Doig, Emmah, Fleming, Jennifer, “Impact of SRSD of groups placement” project team, Fitzgerald, Cate, Laracy, Sue, Searles, Jacqueline, McKenzie, Amy, Strong, Jenny, Tornatore, Giovanna and Whitehead, Mary (2021). Exploring the patient perspectives of student‐resourced service delivery of rehabilitation groups: a qualitative study. Australian Occupational Therapy Journal, 69 (2), 140-150. doi: 10.1111/1440-1630.12776
Effeney, Lauren C., Nixon, Jodie L. and Pigott, Amanda E. (2021). Occupational therapy for people with mask anxiety undergoing radiotherapy. Australian Occupational Therapy Journal, 68 (5), 374-383. doi: 10.1111/1440-1630.12734
Pigott, Amanda, Brown, Bena, Trevethan, Megan, Porceddu, Sandro, McCann, Andrew, Pitt, Rachael and Nixon, Jodie (2021). Head and neck lymphoedema: research challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic. British Journal of Community Nursing, 26 (Sup10), S6-S15. doi: 10.12968/bjcn.2021.26.Sup10.S6
Patterson, Freyr, Doig, Emmah, Fleming, Jenny, Strong, Jenny, Birch, Stephen, Whitehead, Mary, Laracy, Sue, Fitzgerald, Cate, Tornatore, Giovanna, McKenzie, Amy, Searles, Jacqueline and Pigott, Amanda (2021). Student-resourced service delivery of occupational therapy rehabilitation groups: patient, clinician and student perspectives about the ingredients for success. Disability and Rehabilitation, 44 (18), 1-12. doi: 10.1080/09638288.2021.1922517
Pigott, Amanda, Doig, Emmah, McCann, Andrew and Trevethan, Megan (2021). It was just mind blowing to be honest: a qualitative phenomenological study exploring cancer survivor's experiences of indocyanine green lymphography used to inform lymphedema therapy management. Supportive Care in Cancer, 29 (11), 6389-6397. doi: 10.1007/s00520-021-06229-2
Jeans, Claire, Ward, Elizabeth C., Brown, Bena, Vertigan, Anne E., Pigott, Amanda E., Nixon, Jodie L., Wratten, Chris and Boggess, May (2020). Association between external and internal lymphedema and chronic dysphagia following head and neck cancer treatment. Head and Neck, 43 (1) hed.26484, 255-267. doi: 10.1002/hed.26484
Jeans, Claire, Brown, Bena, Ward, Elizabeth C., Vertigan, Anne E., Pigott, Amanda E., Nixon, Jodie L., Wratten, Chris and Fellowship: Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Radiologists (2020). Comparing the prevalence, location, and severity of head and neck lymphedema after postoperative radiotherapy for oral cavity cancers and definitive chemoradiotherapy for oropharyngeal, laryngeal, and hypopharyngeal cancers. Head and Neck, 42 (11) hed.26394, 3364-3374. doi: 10.1002/hed.26394
Pigott, Amanda, Obermair, Andreas, Janda, Monika, Vagenas, Dimitrios, Ward, Leigh C., Reul-Hirche, Hildegard and Hayes, Sandra C. (2020). Incidence and risk factors for lower limb lymphedema associated with endometrial cancer: Results from a prospective, longitudinal cohort study. Gynecologic Oncology, 158 (2), 375-381. doi: 10.1016/j.ygyno.2020.04.702
Pigott, Amanda, Nixon, Jodie, Brennan, Kate, Trevethan, Megan and Mahoney, Lauren (2019). Developing a sustainable cancer educational resource for occupational therapists. British Journal of Occupational Therapy, 82 (10), 612-617. doi: 10.1177/0308022619848954
Nixon, Jodie L., Brown, Bena, Pigott, Amanda E., Turner, Jane, Brown, Elizabeth, Bernard, Anne, Wall, Laurelie R., Ward, Elizabeth C. and Porceddu, Sandro V. (2019). A prospective examination of mask anxiety during radiotherapy for head and neck cancer and patient perceptions of management strategies. Journal of Medical Radiation Sciences, 66 (3) jmrs.346, 184-190. doi: 10.1002/jmrs.346
Jeans, Claire, Ward, Elizabeth C., Cartmill, Bena, Vertigan, Anne E., Pigott, Amanda E., Nixon, Jodie L. and Wratten, Chris (2019). Patient perceptions of living with head and neck lymphoedema and the impacts to swallowing, voice and speech function. European Journal of Cancer Care, 28 (1) e12894, e12894. doi: 10.1111/ecc.12894
Nixon, Jodie L., Cartmill, Bena, Turner, Jane, Pigott, Amanda E., Brown, Elizabeth, Wall, Laurelie R., Ward, Elizabeth C., Porceddu, Sandro V. and Wall, Laurelie (2018). Exploring the prevalence and experience of mask anxiety for the person with head and neck cancer undergoing radiotherapy. Journal of Medical Radiation Sciences, 65 (4), 282-290. doi: 10.1002/jmrs.308
Nixon, Jodie L., Pigott, Amanda E., Cartmill, Bena, Turner, Jane, Fleming, Jennifer and Porceddu, Sandro V. (2018). A mixed methods examination of distress and person-centred experience of head and neck lymphoedema. Oral Oncology, 83, 18-24. doi: 10.1016/j.oraloncology.2018.05.025
Pigott, Amanda, Nixon, Jodie, Fleming, Jennifer and Porceddu, Sandro (2018). Head and neck lymphedema management: evaluation of a therapy program. Head and Neck, 40 (6), 1131-1137. doi: 10.1002/hed.25086
Bennett, Sally, Pigott, Amanda, Beller, Elaine, Haines, Terry, Meredith, Pamela and Delaney, Christie (2016). Educational interventions for the management of cancer-related fatigue in adults (Review). Cochrane Database of Systematic Review, 2016 (11) CD008144, CD008144. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD008144.pub2
Singh, Ben, Buchan, Jena, Box, Robyn, Janda, Monika, Peake, Jonathan, Purcell, Amanda, Reul-Hirche, Hildegard and Hayes, Sandra C. (2016). Compression use during an exercise intervention and associated changes in breast cancer–related lymphedema. Asia-Pacific Journal of Clinical Oncology, 12 (3), 216-224. doi: 10.1111/ajco.12471
Purcell, Amanda, Nixon, Jodie, Fleming, Jennifer, McCann, Andrew and Porceddu, Sandro (2016). Measuring head and neck lymphedema: the "ALOHA" trial. Head and Neck, 38 (1), 79-84. doi: 10.1002/hed.23853
Nixon, Jodie, Purcell, Amanda, Fleming, Jennifer, McCann, Andrew and Porceddu, Sandro (2014). Pilot study of an assessment tool for measuring head and neck lymphoedema. British Journal of Community Nursing, 19 (SUPPL. 4), S6-S11. doi: 10.12968/bjcn.2014.19.Sup4.S6
O'Brien, Lisa, Loughnan, Anna, Purcell, Amanda and Haines, Terry (2014). Education for cancer-related fatigue: could talking about it make people more likely to report it?. Supportive Care in Cancer, 22 (1), 209-215. doi: 10.1007/s00520-013-1964-7
Purcell, Amanda (2013). Head and neck lymphoedema management practices. Journal of Lymphoedema, 8 (2), 8-15.
Caldwell, Elizabeth, Fleming, Jennifer, Purcell, Amanda, Whitehead, Mary and Cox, Ruth (2011). Knowledge translation in cancer services: Implementing the Research and Evidence in Practice model. British Journal of Occupational Therapy, 74 (11), 535-539. doi: 10.4276/030802211X13204135680947
Purcell, Amanda, Fleming, Jennifer, Burmeister, Bryan, Bennett, Sally and Haines, Terry (2011). Is education an effective management strategy for reducing cancer-related fatigue?. Supportive Care in Cancer, 19 (9), 1429-1439. doi: 10.1007/s00520-010-0970-2
Purcell, Amanda, Fleming, Jenny, Bennett, Sally and Haines, Terrence (2010). Development of an educational intervention for cancer-related fatigue. British Journal of Occupational Therapy, 73 (7), 327-333. doi: 10.4276/030802210X12759925544425
Purcell, A., Fleming, J., Bennett, S., Burmeister, B. and Haines, T. (2010). Determining the minimal clinically important difference criteria for the multidimensional fatigue inventory in a radiotherapy population. Supportive Care In Cancer, 18 (3), 307-315. doi: 10.1007/s00520-009-0653-z
Bennett, S., Purcell, A., Meredith, P., Beller, E., Haines, T. and Fleming, J. (2010). Educational interventions for the management of cancer-related fatigue in adults (Protocol). Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews (4), CD008144-1-CD008144-11. doi: 10.1002/14651858.CD008144
Purcell, A., Fleming, J., Bennett, S., McGuane, K., Burmeister, B. and Haines, T. (2010). A multidimensional examination of correlates of fatigue during radiotherapy. Cancer, 116 (2), 529-537. doi: 10.1002/cncr.24731
Haines, Terry P., McPhail, Steven and Purcell, Amanda (2009). When should an intervention be provided?. Australian Journal of Physiotherapy, 55 (3), 218. doi: 10.1016/S0004-9514(09)70091-1
Purcell, Amanda, Fleming, Jennifer, Haines, Terry and Bennett, Sally (2009). Cancer-related fatigue: A review and a conceptual framework to guide therapists' understanding. British Journal of Occupational Therapy, 72 (2), 79-86. doi: 10.1177/030802260907200205
Conference Papers
Bennett, Sally, Purcell, Amanda, Meredith, Pamela, Beller, Elaine and Haines, Terrence (2012). Educational interventions for the management of cancer-related fatigue in adults: A Cochrane Review. The Joint Meeting of the COSA 39th Annual Scientific Meeting and IPOS 14th World Congress of Psycho–Oncology, Brisbane, Australia, 13-15 November 2012. West Sussex, United Kingdom: Wiley-Blackwell. doi: 10.1111/ajco.12029
Bennett S,, Purcell A,, Meredith P,, Beller E, and Haines T. (2011). Educational interventions for the management of cancer-related fatigue in adults. Educational interventions for the management of cancer-related fatigue in adults: A Cochrane systematic review. Occupational Therapy Australia 24th National Conference, Gold Coast, QLD, Australia, 29 June-1st July 2011.
Purcell, A., Fleming, J., Bennett, S. and Haines, T. (2011). Cancer-related fatigue educational intervention trial. Occupational Therapy Australia 24th National Conference, Gold Coast, QLD Australia, 29 June- 1st July 2011.
Purcell, A., Fleming, J., Bennett, S., Burmeister, B. and Haines, T. (2008). Cancer-related fatigue intervention trial. Queensland Health: Advancing Key Initiatives in Cancer Care, Brisbane, Australia, 16th May 2008.
Purcell, A., Fleming, J., Bennett, S., Burmeister, B. and Haines, T. (2008). Cancer-related fatigue intervention trial. Princess Alexandra Hospital Cancer Collaborative Group Meeting, Brisbane, Australia., 4th August.