Queensland has conducted two “Census at School ” projects since 2001. It has been enlightening fo... more Queensland has conducted two “Census at School ” projects since 2001. It has been enlightening for my statisticians who conducted the Censuses: it opened their eyes to statistics in the world of school education (as opposed to official statistics). In addition, it has been wonderful to watch the ways it has helped improve
Wollin, J., Elder, R., Hartel, CEJ, Spencer, N. and Sanderson, W. (2002). Hassles and Uplifts fro... more Wollin, J., Elder, R., Hartel, CEJ, Spencer, N. and Sanderson, W. (2002). Hassles and Uplifts from the perspective of carers of people with cognitive impairment. In: 3rd Bi-Annual Meeting of the Emotions in Organizational Life Conference, Gold Coast, Australia, (). July 2002. ... Wollin, J. Elder, R. Hartel, CEJ Spencer, N. Sanderson, W.
Collective efficacy is a new theoretical construct that describes a task-specific process for mob... more Collective efficacy is a new theoretical construct that describes a task-specific process for mobilising social capital to tackle specific neighbourhood problems. Collective efficacy has never been investigated in Australia, yet research in Chicago finds that communities with high levels of collective efficacy experience lower levels of violence regardless of poverty levels. We will conduct a spatial and ecometric analysis of collective efficacy and crime using a survey of 3000 residents in 50 Brisbane communities. We will compare similar data from Chicago and Stockholm to investigate the Australian contribution of collective efficacy to spatial crime patterns and its potential for future crime prevention programs.
Spencer, Nancy M <http://eprints.qut.edu.au/view/person/Spencer,_Nancy.html> (1990) Markovi... more Spencer, Nancy M <http://eprints.qut.edu.au/view/person/Spencer,_Nancy.html> (1990) Markovian representation and filtering of a class of nonstationary stochastic processes. [QUT Thesis].
The aim of this retrospective study was to determine from people with multiple sclerosis (MS) and... more The aim of this retrospective study was to determine from people with multiple sclerosis (MS) and their families what information would assist a person with newly diagnosed MS — in which format, when, and from whom it should be delivered. Thirty-four Queensland, Australia, residents with MS and 18 family members and friends participated in the main study. Participants were self-selected for this purposive, statewide, cross-sectional study. Nine of the respondents answered open-ended questions in addition to the standard questionnaires, and seven respondents gave in-depth interviews. The respondents recommended that people with a recent MS diagnosis and their families be given a wide range of information reflective of their personal needs. The information should be provided in person (in both group and individual sessions). They preferred to receive the information from their physicians and the staff of the Multiple Sclerosis Society. Research aimed at cures and therapies, as well as...
This study explored changes in quality of life (QOL) and psychosocial variables in a large cohort... more This study explored changes in quality of life (QOL) and psychosocial variables in a large cohort of people with multiple sclerosis (MS). A total of 1287 Australians with MS were administered self-report questionnaires at baseline and 24 months later to examine the impact of disease severity and duration, perceived stress, self-efficacy, depression, and social support on QOL and self-care. Over the 2-year survey period, MS remained stable for 70% of respondents. Disease severity correlated with social support at baseline but not at 24 months, when the only significant correlation with disease severity was that of the World Health Organization Quality of Life–100 instrument (WHOQOL-100) domain of Level of Independence. Although QOL improved across the WHOQOL-100 domains Physical, Psychological, Level of Independence, Social Relationships, and Environment, decreases were found in the WHOQOL-100 facet overall QOL and well-being as well as self-efficacy over the same time period. Hierar...
The study described in this article aimed to identify issues relating to incontinence and assess ... more The study described in this article aimed to identify issues relating to incontinence and assess the impact of referral to a continence adviser on the lives of people with multiple sclerosis (MS). The study design used an in-depth, two-phase anonymous mail survey within a general community as nominated by the participants. Fifty-six people participated in phase 1 and eleven people completed phase 2. The results indicated that incontinence is a problem for the vast majority of participants--people with MS. One-third of the eligible participants took up the option of a consultation, assessment and treatment from a continence nurse. Reasons for not taking up the visit from the continence nurse included &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;#39;managing OK&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;#39;, &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;#39;didn&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;#39;t think it would help&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;#39;, &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;#39;embarrassed&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;#39; and &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;#39;too busy&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;#39;. Increasing awareness of urinary incontinence in the community is important and education needs to focus on at-risk groups in presenting the range of options available to assist people experiencing incontinence.
This article presents an important finding identified when establishing the validity and reliabil... more This article presents an important finding identified when establishing the validity and reliability of the Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Disability Profile. The research found that the intermittent use of pads to manage urinary incontinence was linked to unemployment, particularly in women with MS. A total of 103 participants completed a survey and participated in semistructured interviews. Urinary incontinence in people with MS is common, with reports of 89%. Twenty percent of the participants in the current study used pads to manage urinary leakage. Response to the question, “Do you use any appliances to assist with bladder function/control?” indicated that intermittent pad use was a precursor to unemployment and is offered as an important indicator of impending unemployment in people with MS. This simple question could be used by clinicians to identify the need for more detailed assessment and appropriate interventions to optimize the management of urinary incontinence, thereby reduci...
Reliance on informal arrangements to support the person with multiple sclerosis (MS) is an increa... more Reliance on informal arrangements to support the person with multiple sclerosis (MS) is an increasingly common phenomenon. The focus of this Australian-based research is on the impact of the caregiver role, the identification of stressors that might prevent a continuation of the role, and the determination of resources needed by caregivers to continue in this role. Using surveys that were sent through the mail, the views of 34 people who care for an individual with MS were collected in order to identify the caregivers’ views on the impact of their role. The results indicate that caregivers provide between 2 and 10 hours daily of physical, emotional, financial, or informational support to the person with MS. The majority of people who provide support to individuals with MS are married to them; they provide care out of love; and they are overtaxed by day-to-day tasks with reduced physical, emotional, and financial resources. Caregivers requested practical support rather than informati...
Queensland has conducted two “Census at School ” projects since 2001. It has been enlightening fo... more Queensland has conducted two “Census at School ” projects since 2001. It has been enlightening for my statisticians who conducted the Censuses: it opened their eyes to statistics in the world of school education (as opposed to official statistics). In addition, it has been wonderful to watch the ways it has helped improve
Wollin, J., Elder, R., Hartel, CEJ, Spencer, N. and Sanderson, W. (2002). Hassles and Uplifts fro... more Wollin, J., Elder, R., Hartel, CEJ, Spencer, N. and Sanderson, W. (2002). Hassles and Uplifts from the perspective of carers of people with cognitive impairment. In: 3rd Bi-Annual Meeting of the Emotions in Organizational Life Conference, Gold Coast, Australia, (). July 2002. ... Wollin, J. Elder, R. Hartel, CEJ Spencer, N. Sanderson, W.
Collective efficacy is a new theoretical construct that describes a task-specific process for mob... more Collective efficacy is a new theoretical construct that describes a task-specific process for mobilising social capital to tackle specific neighbourhood problems. Collective efficacy has never been investigated in Australia, yet research in Chicago finds that communities with high levels of collective efficacy experience lower levels of violence regardless of poverty levels. We will conduct a spatial and ecometric analysis of collective efficacy and crime using a survey of 3000 residents in 50 Brisbane communities. We will compare similar data from Chicago and Stockholm to investigate the Australian contribution of collective efficacy to spatial crime patterns and its potential for future crime prevention programs.
Spencer, Nancy M <http://eprints.qut.edu.au/view/person/Spencer,_Nancy.html> (1990) Markovi... more Spencer, Nancy M <http://eprints.qut.edu.au/view/person/Spencer,_Nancy.html> (1990) Markovian representation and filtering of a class of nonstationary stochastic processes. [QUT Thesis].
The aim of this retrospective study was to determine from people with multiple sclerosis (MS) and... more The aim of this retrospective study was to determine from people with multiple sclerosis (MS) and their families what information would assist a person with newly diagnosed MS — in which format, when, and from whom it should be delivered. Thirty-four Queensland, Australia, residents with MS and 18 family members and friends participated in the main study. Participants were self-selected for this purposive, statewide, cross-sectional study. Nine of the respondents answered open-ended questions in addition to the standard questionnaires, and seven respondents gave in-depth interviews. The respondents recommended that people with a recent MS diagnosis and their families be given a wide range of information reflective of their personal needs. The information should be provided in person (in both group and individual sessions). They preferred to receive the information from their physicians and the staff of the Multiple Sclerosis Society. Research aimed at cures and therapies, as well as...
This study explored changes in quality of life (QOL) and psychosocial variables in a large cohort... more This study explored changes in quality of life (QOL) and psychosocial variables in a large cohort of people with multiple sclerosis (MS). A total of 1287 Australians with MS were administered self-report questionnaires at baseline and 24 months later to examine the impact of disease severity and duration, perceived stress, self-efficacy, depression, and social support on QOL and self-care. Over the 2-year survey period, MS remained stable for 70% of respondents. Disease severity correlated with social support at baseline but not at 24 months, when the only significant correlation with disease severity was that of the World Health Organization Quality of Life–100 instrument (WHOQOL-100) domain of Level of Independence. Although QOL improved across the WHOQOL-100 domains Physical, Psychological, Level of Independence, Social Relationships, and Environment, decreases were found in the WHOQOL-100 facet overall QOL and well-being as well as self-efficacy over the same time period. Hierar...
The study described in this article aimed to identify issues relating to incontinence and assess ... more The study described in this article aimed to identify issues relating to incontinence and assess the impact of referral to a continence adviser on the lives of people with multiple sclerosis (MS). The study design used an in-depth, two-phase anonymous mail survey within a general community as nominated by the participants. Fifty-six people participated in phase 1 and eleven people completed phase 2. The results indicated that incontinence is a problem for the vast majority of participants--people with MS. One-third of the eligible participants took up the option of a consultation, assessment and treatment from a continence nurse. Reasons for not taking up the visit from the continence nurse included &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;#39;managing OK&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;#39;, &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;#39;didn&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;#39;t think it would help&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;#39;, &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;#39;embarrassed&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;#39; and &amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;#39;too busy&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;#39;. Increasing awareness of urinary incontinence in the community is important and education needs to focus on at-risk groups in presenting the range of options available to assist people experiencing incontinence.
This article presents an important finding identified when establishing the validity and reliabil... more This article presents an important finding identified when establishing the validity and reliability of the Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Disability Profile. The research found that the intermittent use of pads to manage urinary incontinence was linked to unemployment, particularly in women with MS. A total of 103 participants completed a survey and participated in semistructured interviews. Urinary incontinence in people with MS is common, with reports of 89%. Twenty percent of the participants in the current study used pads to manage urinary leakage. Response to the question, “Do you use any appliances to assist with bladder function/control?” indicated that intermittent pad use was a precursor to unemployment and is offered as an important indicator of impending unemployment in people with MS. This simple question could be used by clinicians to identify the need for more detailed assessment and appropriate interventions to optimize the management of urinary incontinence, thereby reduci...
Reliance on informal arrangements to support the person with multiple sclerosis (MS) is an increa... more Reliance on informal arrangements to support the person with multiple sclerosis (MS) is an increasingly common phenomenon. The focus of this Australian-based research is on the impact of the caregiver role, the identification of stressors that might prevent a continuation of the role, and the determination of resources needed by caregivers to continue in this role. Using surveys that were sent through the mail, the views of 34 people who care for an individual with MS were collected in order to identify the caregivers’ views on the impact of their role. The results indicate that caregivers provide between 2 and 10 hours daily of physical, emotional, financial, or informational support to the person with MS. The majority of people who provide support to individuals with MS are married to them; they provide care out of love; and they are overtaxed by day-to-day tasks with reduced physical, emotional, and financial resources. Caregivers requested practical support rather than informati...
This paper discusses how researchers can augment their traditional publications and share their l... more This paper discusses how researchers can augment their traditional publications and share their large research datasets in a format easily analysed by other researchers, while enhancing their own analytic capabilities. The case study is the Queensland Energy and Jobs Plan, and the data portal implemented using Power BI. The data portal presents the results from simulating the effect of implementing the plan on the Australian National Electricity Market, encompassing the eastern seaboard of Australia. The case study incorporates 198 simulations which are parameter sweeps of 9 scenarios of coal generation retirement and transmission augmentation, 2 wind levels, and 11 candidate years representing different weather conditions. The portal development process compares different data extraction, transformation, and load strategies and combines proven processes from Business Analysis and Data Management Bodies of Knowledge. The process result is a portal based on a relational database that provides a template for future projects, is simulation model agnostic, informs simulation model improvements, and provides a foundation for more advanced analytics. Future extensions could address dilemmas in the energy market, such as including generation and storage relying on high-frequency arbitrage within long-term development modelling.
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Papers by Nancy Spencer