Current & Recent Studies
Support via Telephone for Elderly Caregivers in Hospice (Support TECH):
The Population-based Palliative Care Research Network (PoPCRN) is collaborating with Kristin Kilbourn, PhD, AMC Cancer Research Center, on a pilot study recently funded by the American Cancer Society Institutional Research Grants/University of Colorado Cancer Center Seed Grant program. The overall goal of this project is to conduct a feasibility study of a new and innovative counseling intervention to improve psychosocial functioning and quality of life among caregivers of cancer patients enrolled in home-based hospice care.
Hospice Social Work Survey:
PoPCRN is collaborating with Jessica Haxton, LCSW (a PhD Candidate and Adjunct Faculty at The University of Denver Graduate School of Social Work) and Amy Boelk, APSW (Associate Professor and Field Coordinator at University of Wisconsin- Steven’s Point) on a national online survey of hospice social workers.
Hospice social workers have a unique contribution to make when it comes to improving care for terminally ill patients and their families. The overall goal of this study was to improve the quality of life for terminally ill patients and their families by learning from the social workers who serve them. Melanie Ramey, Executive Director of The Hospice and Palliative Care Experts (HOPE) of Wisconsin notes: 'We know that hospices serving rural areas have special challenges and we are very interested in learning more about them and how social workers, in particular, think about and work with them. We are hopeful that we can gain knowledge that will help us to assist you in doing your important work.' While some questions specifically asked about rural end-of-life care, all hospice social workers were invited to participate in this survey.
This study has been completed. Stay tuned for study results.
Hospice and Baby Boomers Survey:
This Graduate research study conducted by Lisa M Potter, a Masters student at Regis University, Rueckert-Hartman College for Health Professions aimed to elicit the thoughts, ideas and preparations by Colorado hospice administrators or CEOs in regard to the baby boomer population and what advance preparations are being made to deal with a possible increased demand for hospice services that may occur due to this generation. Participants were asked to take part in an audio recorded one-on-one interview.
This study has been completed. Stay tuned for study results.
Attitudes and use of Complementary Alternative Medicine Therapies in Hospice/Palliative Care Organizations:
PoPCRN is working with Liz Wilson, a 4th year medical student at the University of Colorado Denver, on an online survey to describe provider attitudes and use of different Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) therapies in hospice and palliative care settings. Participants were hospice or palliative care physicians, nurse managers, and others who could respond to attitudes/uses of CAM therapies in their organizations.
This study was conducted between July and Sept 2008. Stay tuned for study results.
Caregiver concerns related to pain management: the role of hospice social workers:
A non-randomized survey of 87 US hospice social workers from the PoPCRN database and a small convenience sample of follow-up interviews indicate that social workers assess the components of pain but are not able to devote as much attention to it as they feel is needed.
While most report assessing patient and family needs, many do not use standardized assessment instruments. These data suggest that while social workers may understand their role in pain management they struggle to find the time and tools needed to help address caregiver concerns related to pain management. This study suggests that the development of standardized assessment instruments for hospice social workers for caregivers would be helpful and team training and discussion related to ways the social worker can best assist in pain management issues for caregivers is warranted. Research is needed on social work interventions with caregivers related to pain to establish an evidence base for hospice social work and cement a role identity for social work in pain management.