Research

Our Adult Palliative Care Service team conducts research in symptom management, support, communication and other aspects to develop evidence-based practices and improve patient outcomes. By investigating, researchers in palliative care are working to improve the care and support provided to patients and families facing serious illness, and to advance the field of palliative care as a whole.

Some of the key areas of research in palliative care include:

• Symptom management to investigate the best ways to manage symptoms such as pain, nausea, and shortness of breath, which are common in patients with serious illness.
• Communication to find the best ways to communicate with patients and families about their illness, prognosis, and treatment options, with the goal of improving understanding and reducing distress.
• Caregiver support to learn about the ways to support the caregivers of patients with serious illness, including interventions to reduce stress and improve coping.
• Advance care planning to facilitate discussions about end-of-life care preferences and decision-making.
• Palliative care in different settings to investigate the effectiveness of palliative care in different settings, including hospitals, homes, and the community.
• Cultural and ethical issues including how cultural beliefs and values impact care decisions, and how to ensure that care is respectful and appropriate for diverse patient populations.
• Quality improvement to reduce unnecessary hospitalizations, improve pain management, and increase access to care.