Reviewed: June 4, 2009
Due to recurrence and the length of and duration of treatment, cancer is increasingly recognized as a chronic disease. Palliative care research at the SRC focuses on improving care for patients in the palliative and end-of-life stages by early identification and management of suffering associated with cancer. In order to improve patient and family quality of life, the SRC's research examines physical, psychosocial, and spiritual resources, with a focus on translating research knowledge into improved clinical practice.
- Palliative Care in Cross Cultural Context: A NET for Equitable and Quality Care for Culturally Diverse Population
- Characterizing Access to End of Life Care Among Culturally Diverse Groups
- Use of Palliative Outcome Scale (POS) in Tertiary Palliative Care
- An Evaluation of an After-Hours Crisis Response Team for Palliative Care Patients in the Community
- Kelowna Palliative Response Team - Cost Effectiveness/Quality of Life Pilot
- Family Caregiver Coping in End of Life Cancer Care
- Quality of Life for Palliative Patients and their Caregivers
1. Palliative Care in the Cross Cultural Context: A NET for Equitable and Quality Care for Culturally Diverse Populations.
Investigators: Richard Doll, Dr. Arminée Kazanjian, Dr. Maria Cristina Barroetavena, Dr. Gillian Fyles & Dr. Grace Johnston. Coordinator: Patricia Nelson
Funding provided by: Canadian Institutes for Health Research
Funded period: November 2004 - March 2009
Bringing together researchers from BCCA-SRC, University of British Columbia, University of Saskatchewan and Dalhousie University, the New and Emerging Team is a 5 year project funded by CIHR to develop research and training capacity in the area of culture and cancer palliative care. The multidisciplinary team supports research in the streams of Access, Caregivers and Complementary and Alternative Therapies; trains masters, doctoral and post-doctoral students. facilitates cross fertilization of research expertise to develop conceptual approaches and research tools for palliative care in the cross cultural context.
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2. Family Caregiver Coping in End of Life Cancer Care
Investigators: Kelli Stadjuhar (PI), Dr. Gillian Fyles & Doris Barwich
Funding provided by: National Cancer Institute of Canada
Funded period: July 2004 to June 2007
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3. Kelowna Palliative Response Team - Cost Effectiveness/Quality of Life Pilot
Investigators: Dr. Gillian Fyles, Sandra Broughton, Dr. Cynthia Mathieson, Anne Marie Broemeling et al.
Funding provided by: Sociobehavioural Cancer Research Network - National Cancer Institute of Canada
Funded period: 2003 to 2005
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4. Quality of Life for Palliative Patients and their Caregivers
Investigators: Robin Cohen, Dr. Gillian Fyles, Dr. Anne Leis, Pat Porterfield et al.
Funding provided by: National Cancer Institute of Canada
Funded period: 2001 to 2005
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5. Characterizing Access to End of Life Care Among Culturally Diverse Groups.
Investigators: Dr. Maria Cristina Barroetavena & Dr. Grace Johnston.
Funding provided by: Canadian Institutes for Health Research - Palliative Care in Cross Cultural Context NET
Funded period: 2004
As part of the larger NET research program, this pilot study builds on data from Nova Scotia and extends to British Columbia. The goal is to establish cultural indicators and link them into quality, population-based end of life and palliative care data sets. Indicators of culture will be examined as predictors of risk for dying out of hospital. Development of cultural indicators will contribute to an assessment of the role of culture on health practices, service utilization, and morbidity and mortality outcomes for use in Canadian linked database End of Life studies.
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6. Use of the Palliative Outcome Scale (POS) in Tertiary Palliative Care.
Inevstigators: Dr. Gillian Fyles (PI), Dr. Arminée Kazanjian & Dr. Maria Cristina Barroetavena.
Funding provided by: Canadian Institutes for Health Research - Palliative Care in Cross Cultural Context NET
Funded period: 2004
This project assess the cross-cultural dimensions of quality of life, quality of care and patient and family satisfaction, as measured by the Palliative Outcome Scale (POS) developed by Higgins. The BCCA Pain and Symptom Management/Palliative Care Program in conjunction with the Fraser Health Authority Palliative Care Program is collecting data from tertiary palliative care clinics/units. Information will be used to build a quality of life database.
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7. An Evaluation of an After-Hours Crisis Response Team for Palliative Care Patients in the Community - Phase 1.
Investigator: Dr. Gillian Fyles (PI), Sandra Broughton, Anne-Marie Broemeling, Cynthia Mathieson, Michael Banwell, Vera Gibault, Louise Adderley & Elizabeth Folk.
Funding provided by: Sociobehavioural Cancer Research Network - National Cancer Institute of Canada
Funded period: 2003
The Kelowna Palliative Response Team (PRT) is an after hours crisis response team for patients and their family members registered with the Kelowna Palliative Care Program who wish to die at home. The PRT has been in place since November 2000, with ongoing data collection which has shown a decrease in acute bed days. As the PRT has demonstrated a promising potential as a model for palliative care, pilot research is now underway to to evaluate the cost effectiveness and Quality of Life outcomes.
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