Our Research & Publications

Our research addresses key current challenges in palliative and end of life care by:

• Conducting collaborative, inter-disciplinary research that is co-produced with patients and members of the public. 
• Building new knowledge through a breadth of methodological and subject expertise.
• Using high quality evidence to inform clinical practice and policy in palliative and end of life care nationally and internationally.
• Innovating in public engagement by working alongside local communities to actively involve all stakeholders in palliative and end of life care.

We are involved in a wide range of research projects, collaborating with clinical, academic and policy partners. We work closely with local clinical providers including St Luke's Hospice (Research Lead - Dr Paul Taylor), Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and the CCG. For a summary of our current research projects and publications see below:

Recent Publications

2024

Oliver K, Brown M, Walshe C, Salifu Y. A Meta-Ethnographic Review of Paid Staff and Volunteers Working together in Palliative Care. J Pain Symptom Manage. 2023 Dec;66(6):656-670.e11. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2023.08.004. Epub 2023 Aug 12. PMID: 37574093.

Mitchell S, Turner N, Fryer K, Aunger J, Beng J, Couchman E, Leach I, Bayly J, Gardiner C, Evans C. Integration of primary care and palliative care services to improve equality and equity at the end-of-life: Findings from realist stakeholder workshops. Palliative Medicine. 2024;0(0). https://doi.org/10.1177/02692163241248962

Mitchell, S., Turner, N., Fryer, K. Beng J, Ogden ME, Watson M, Gardiner C, Bayly J, Sleeman KE, Evans CJ. A framework for more equitable, diverse, and inclusive Patient and Public Involvement for palliative care research. Res Involv Engagem 10, 19 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1186/s40900-023-00525-3

2023

Webb, E.J.D., Meads, D. and Gardiner, C. (2023) The informal carer experience during the COVID-19 pandemic: mental health, loneliness, and financial (in)-security. Oxford Open Economics, 2. odad085. pp. 1-14. ISSN 2752-5074

Wilson F, Wardani E, Ryan T, Gardiner C, Talpur A (2023) Barriers and mechanisms to the development of palliative care in Aceh, Indonesia, Progress in Palliative Care, DOI: 10.1080/09699260.2023.2256177

Hargreaves, S., Gardiner, C., Tod, A. and Darlison, L., 2023. Mesothelioma palliative care needs: supporting patients and families with new research-based resources. British Journal of Community Nursing, 28(5), pp.248-252.

2022

Gardiner C, Harrison M, Hargreaves S & Taylor B (2022) Palliative care roles and responsibilities of mesothelioma clinical nurse specialists in the UK, Progress in Palliative Care, DOI: 10.1080/09699260.2022.2158286

Hudson P, Gardiner C, Alvariza A, et al. Strategies and checklist for designing and conducting palliative care research with family carers: EAPC international expert elicitation study. Palliative Medicine. 2022;0(0). doi:10.1177/02692163221136162

Turner N, Wahid A, Oliver P, et al. Role and response of primary healthcare services in community end-of-life care during COVID-19: Qualitative study and recommendations for primary palliative care delivery. Palliative Medicine. 2022;0(0). doi:10.1177/02692163221140435

Mayland, Catriona; Sunderland , Katy; Cooper, Matthew; Taylor, Paul; et al. Measuring quality of dying, death and end-of-life care for children and young people: a scoping review of available tools. Palliative Medicine 2022; Sep 36(8). 1186-1206

Hodge A, Manson J, McTague L, Kyeremateng S, Taylor P.   Creating virtual communities of practice for ambulance paramedics; a qualitative evaluation of the use of Project ECHO in end of life care. British Paramedic Journal 2022.  Nov. 7(3). 51-58

Bird J & Wilson F (2022) Do not resuscitate orders in the time of COVID-19: Exploring media representations and implications for public and professional understandings, Progress in Palliative Care, DOI: 10.1080/09699260.2022.2052505

Gardiner, C., Harrison, M., Hargreaves, S. & Taylor, B. (2022). Clinical nurse specialist role in providing generalist and specialist palliative care: A qualitative study of mesothelioma clinical nurse specialists. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 00, 1– 10. https://doi.org/10.1111/jan.15277

Taylor P, Stone T, Simpson R, Kyeremateng S, Mason S. Emergency department presentations in palliative care patients: a retrospective cohort study.  BMJ Supportive and Palliative Care 2022; 0. 1-4 

Mitchell, S., Barclay, S., Evans, C., & Sleeman, K. (2022). Palliative and end-of-life care in primary care during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond. Br J Gen Pract, 72(714), 6-7. doi:10.3399/bjgp22X718025

Ejegi-Memeh S, Taylor B, Gardiner C. Tod A. Patients' and informal carers' experience of living with mesothelioma: A systematic rapid review and synthesis of the literature. European Journal of Oncology Nursing. 2022 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejon.2022.102122

Gardiner C, Taylor B, Goodwin H, Robinson J, Gott M. Employment and family caregiving in palliative care: an international qualitative study. Palliative Medicine 2022. Jun;36(6):986-993. doi: 10.1177/02692163221089134. 

Harrison M, Darlison L, Gardiner C. Understanding the Experiences of end of Life Care for Patients with Mesothelioma from the Perspective of Bereaved Family Caregivers in the UK: A Qualitative Analysis. Journal of Palliative Care. February 2022. doi:10.1177/08258597221079235

2021

Ariss SMB, Taylor P, Fitzsimmons D, Kyeremateng S, Mawson S. Mobile technology and delegated work in specialist community services: the EnComPaSS Integration project.  BMJ Supportive and Palliative Care 2021; 0:1-8

Mitchell, S., Harrison, M., Oliver, P., Gardiner, C., Chapman, H., Khan, D…. Mayland, C. (2021). Service change and innovation in community end-of-life care during the COVID-19 pandemic: qualitative analysis of a nationwide primary care survey. Palliative Medicine. doi:10.1177/02692163211049311

Mitchell, S., Chapman, H., Fowler, I., & McTague, L. Dying at home during covid-19: a view from primary care. BMJ, n1776. doi:10.1136/bmj.n1776

Mitchell S, Oliver P, Gardiner C, Chapman H, Khan D, Boyd K, Dale J, Barclay S & Mayland C. Community end-of-life care during COVID-19: Findings of a UK primary care survey. BJGP Open 2021

Webb EJD, Meads D & Gardiner C Changing the eligibility criteria for welfare payments at the end of life – a budget impact analysis for England and Wales. BMC Health Services Research 2021, 21: 421

Mitchell S, Harding S, Samani M, Slowther A-M, Coad J & Dale J. Experiences of general practice of children with complex and palliative care needs and their families: a qualitative study. BMJ Open 2021, 11(1).

Harrison M, Gardiner C, Taylor B, Ejegi-Memeh S & Darlison L. Understanding the palliative care needs and experiences of people with mesothelioma and their family carers : an integrative systematic review. Palliative Medicine 2021;35(6):1039-1051. 

Hanna JR, Rapa E, Dalton L, Hughes R, McGlinchey T, Bennett KM, Donnellan WJ, Mason SR & Mayland CR A qualitative study of bereaved relatives’ end of life experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic. Palliative Medicine. 2021;35(5):843-851.   

Manson J, Gardiner C, Taylor P, Ghasemi L, Westerdale-Shaw E, Sutton L & Cawley H ‘Palliative care education in nursing homes: a qualitative evaluation of telementoring. BMJ Supportive & Palliative Care 2021

Taylor B, Tod A, Gardiner C, Creech L, Forde F & Darlison L Effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on people with mesothelioma and their carers. Cancer Nursing Practice 2021, 20(2). doi: 10.7748/cnp.2021.e1773

Limbu T & Taylor PM Experiences of surgical nurses in providing end-of-life care in an acute care setting: a qualitative study. Br J of Nurs 2021 30(18), 1084-1089.  

Walzl N, Sammy IA, Taylor PM, Smith JE & Lowe DJ Systematic review of factors influencing decisions to limit treatment in the emergency department. Emergency Medicine Journal 2021 

Mayland CR, Hughes R, Lane S, McGlinchey T, Donnellan W, Bennett K, Hanna J, Rapa E, Dalton L, Mason SR. Are public health measures and individualised care compatible in the face of a pandemic? A national observational study of bereaved relatives' experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic. Palliat Med. 2021 Sep;35(8):1480-1491. .

Hanna J, Rapa E, Dalton L, Hughes R, Quarmby LM, McGlinchey T, Donnellan W, Bennett K, Mayland CR, Mason SR*. Health and social care professionals’ experiences of providing end of life care during the COVID-19 pandemic: A qualitative study. Palliat Med. 2021;35(7):1249-1257..

Haugen DF, Hufthammer KO, Gerlach C, Sigurdardottir K, Hansen MIT, Ting G, Tripododo VA, Goldraij G, Yanneo EG, Leppert W, Wolczczak K, Zambon L, Passarini JN, Saad IAB, Weber M, Ellershaw J, Mayland CR. ERANet-LAC CODE Project Group. Good Quality Care for Cancer Patients Dying in Hospitals, but Information Needs Unmet: Bereaved Relatives' Survey within Seven Countries. Oncologist. 2021 Jul;26(7):e1273-e1284. doi: 10.1002/onco.13837. 

2020

Mitchell S, Maynard V, Lyons V, Jones N & Gardiner C. The role and response of primary healthcare services in the delivery of palliative care in epidemics and pandemics : a rapid review to inform practice and service delivery during the COVID-19 pandemic. Palliative Medicine 2020, 34(9):1182-1192 

Gardiner C, Robinson J, Connolly M, Hulme C, Kang K, Rowland C, Larkin P, Meads D, Morgan T & Gott M Equity and the financial costs of informal caregiving in palliative care: a critical debate. BMC Palliative Care 2020, 19 (1).

Mitchell S, Slowther A-M, Coad J & Dale J Experiences of healthcare, including palliative care, of children with life-limiting and life-threatening conditions and their families : a longitudinal qualitative investigation. Archives of Disease in Childhood 2020, 106:570-576.

Mayland CR, Ho QM, Doughty HC, Rogers SN, Peddinti P, Praytush C, Mason SR, Cooper M & Dey P The palliative care needs and experiences of people with advanced head and neck cancer: a scoping review. Palliative Medicine. 2021;35(1):27-44.

Mayland C, Doughty HC, Rogers SN, Gola A, Mason S, Hubbert C, Macareavy D & Jack BA A qualitative study exploring patient, family carer and healthcare professionals’ direct experiences and barriers to providing and integrating palliative care for advanced head and neck cancer. Journal of Palliative Care. 2021;36(2):121-129. 

Mayland C, Harding A, Preston N & Payne S (2020) Supporting adults bereaved through COVID-19: a rapid review of the impact of previous pandemics on grief and bereavement. Journal of Pain and Symptom Management 60 (2) 33-39

Manson J, Ghasemi L, Westerdale E, Taylor P, Kyeremateng S & McTague L Evaluating a palliative care education programme for domiciliary care workers. Nursing Older People 2020, 35(2).  

Current Research Projects

Details of our current research projects can be found here.

Research Expertise

We have specialist expertise in a range of methodologies, our main areas of research focus include: 

• Evaluating quality of care for the dying
• Inequity and inequality in palliative care; improving palliative care access and provision for under-served groups. 
• Financial and economic costs of palliative care, and financial support for patients and their families.
• International palliative care; addressing global challenges to establish palliative care in low and middle income countries
• Palliative care in primary care; identification and management of supportive and palliative care needs in the community.
• Service user involvement and PPI, championing meaningful engagement with service users in palliative care research
• Policy-relevant research to improve service design and patient experiences of care.

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI)

The Research Group is committed to encouraging Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) among our workforce, and in the research we conduct. You can read our EDI statement here.