Research methods in palliative care

Edited by Julia M Addington-Hall, Eduardo Bruera, Irene J Higginson, and Sheila Payne

The first book to look at research methods as applied to the unique needs of palliative care
Edited by four leading academics in the field, including two who are active in clinical practice

Research methods in palliative care

Edited by Julia M Addington-Hall, Eduardo Bruera, Irene J Higginson, and Sheila Payne

Description

Palliative and end of life care are concerned with the physical, social, psychological and spiritual care of people with advanced disease. It currently has a poorly developed research base, but the need to improve this is increasingly recognised. One of the reasons for the lack of research - and the variable quality of the research that is undertaken - is the difficulty of conducting research with very ill and bereaved people. Standard and well-established research methods may need to be adapted to work in this context. This means that existing research methods textbooks may be of limited use to palliative care practitioners seeking to do research for the first time, or to more experienced researchers wanting to apply their knowledge in palliative care settings.

This research methods textbook is the first to be written specifically for palliative care. It has been edited by four experienced palliative care academics with acknowledged expertise and international reputations in this field. It encompasses methods used in both clinical and health services research in palliative care, with sections on clinical, epidemiological, survey and qualitative research, as well as a section covering skills needed in any research project. Each chapter provides readers with an up to date overview of the research method in question, an understanding of its applicability to palliative care and of the particular challenges of using it in this setting. It is essential reading for all palliative care researchers.

Research methods in palliative care

Edited by Julia M Addington-Hall, Eduardo Bruera, Irene J Higginson, and Sheila Payne

1:Introduction, Julia M Addington-Hall
Section 1 - Clinical Trials
2:Principles of designing clinical trials in palliative care, Michael I Bennett
3:Ethical and practical issues in designing and conducting clinical trials in palliative care, Yolanda Zuriarrain Reyna, Michael I Bennett & Eduardo Bruera
Section 2 - Survey Research
4:Survey design, Julia M Addington-Hall
5:Survey research: methods of data collection, questionnaire design, and piloting, Julia M Addington-Hall
Section 3 - Epidemiological Research Methods
6:Experimental and quasi-experimental designs, Massimo Costantini and Irene J Higginson
7:Outcome measurement, Irene J Higginson and Richard Harding
8:Systematic reviews, Marjolein Gysels and Irene J Higginson
Section 4 - Qualitative Research Methods
9:Qualitative methods of data collection and analysis, Sheila Payne
10:Ethical and practice issues in qualitative research, Frances Sheldon and Anita Sargeant
11:Evaluating qualitative research, Michele Crossley
12:Mixed methods for evaluation research, Christine Ingleton and Sue Davies
13:Ethnography, Jane Seymour
14:Documentary analysis and policy, Margaret O'Connor
Section 5 - How to...
15:How to develop a research question, Laura Kelly and Patrick Stone
16:Writing a research proposal, Chris Todd
17:How to gain research ethics approval, Peter Speck
18:How to use a statistician, Malcolm Campbell
19:How to write a paper, Julia M Addington-Hall

Research methods in palliative care

Edited by Julia M Addington-Hall, Eduardo Bruera, Irene J Higginson, and Sheila Payne

Author Information

Edited by Julia M Addington-Hall, Chair in End of Life Care, School of Nursing and Midwifery, University of Southampton, UK, Eduardo Bruera, Professor and Chair, Department of Palliative Care and Rehabilitation Medicine, The University of Texas M D Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA, Irene J Higginson, Professor of Palliative Care and Policy, Department of Palliative Care, Policy and Rehabilitation, King's College London, UK, and Sheila Payne, Help the Hospices Chair in Hospice Studies, International Observatory on End of Life Care, Institute of Health Research, Lancaster University, Lancaster, UK

Contributors:

Julia M Addington-Hall, School of Nursing and Midwifery, University of Southampton, UK
Michael I Bennett, St Gemma's Hospice and University of Leeds, UK
Eduardo Bruera, Department of Palliative Care and Rehabilitation Medicine, The University of Texas M D Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
Malcolm Campbell, School of Nursing, Midwifery and Social Work, University of Manchester, UK
Massimo Costantini, Unit of Clinical Epidemiology, National Cancer Institute, Genova, Italy
Michele Crossley, Institute for Health Research, Liverpool John Moore's University, UK
Sue Davies, School of Nursing and Midwifery, University of Sheffield, UK
Marjolein Gysels, Department of Palliative Care, Policy and Rehabilitation, King's College London, UK
Richard Harding, Department of Palliative Care, Policy and Rehabilitation, King's College London, UK
Irene J Higginson, Department of Palliative Care, Policy and Rehabilitation, King's College London, UK
Christine Ingleton, Centre for Health and Social Care Research, Sheffield Hallam University, UK
Laura Kelly, Surrey and Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust, Surrey, UK
Margaret O'Connor, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Monash University, Frankston, Australia
Sheila Payne, International Observatory on End of Life Care, Institute of Health Research, Lancaster University, UK
Yolanda Zuriarrain Reyna, Department of Palliative Care & Rehabilitation Medicine, The University of Texas M D Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
Anita Sargeant, School of Nursing and Midwifery, University of Sheffield, UK
Jane Seymour, School of Nursing, University of Nottingham, UK
Frances Sheldon, School of Social Sciences, University of Southampton, UK (Frances died during the writing of this book; her wisdom and expertise in palliative care are evident in the chapter she co-authored for it; she is greatly missed)
Patrick Stone, St George's University of London and NHS Trust, London, UK
Peter Speck, Department of Palliative Care and Policy, King's College London; School of Psychology, University of Southampton, UK
Christ Todd, School of Nursing, Midwifery and Social Work, University of Manchester, UK

Research methods in palliative care

Edited by Julia M Addington-Hall, Eduardo Bruera, Irene J Higginson, and Sheila Payne

Reviews and Awards

"The book is well set out, with a useful system of headings ... easily understood by somebody not familiar with the research process. ...this book will be a useful reference for those experienced in research and an invaluable guide for those embarking upon it for the first time." - Palliative Care,