Sector news

People with advanced cancer often face complex treatment decisions, where small survival benefits must be weighed against side effects and the often-overlooked burden of “time toxicity” - the time spent on treatment and healthcare. In this blog, Dr. Samuel Stevens, highlighted his research and the TIME-DCE study, which explores how patients weigh factors like survival, side effects, treatment duration, and time commitment when choosing between treatment options.

Our Director, Professor Jennifer Tieman, presented From knowledge to practice: Implementation in action at the Palliative Care Aged Care Forum. While there is no shortage of evidence on the value of palliative and end of life care, translating this knowledge into everyday practice, particularly in aged care, remains a challenge. she explored why evidence still matters, helping us understand what works, what doesn’t, and what needs to be adapted across different settings.

In this blog, Dr Tracy Schumacher and other authors, explore how supportive care uses a holistic, multidisciplinary team approach to help people understand their conditions and manage symptoms, and maintain quality of life throughout a long and often uncertain illness journey.

In this blog, Dr Pauline Gillan and Professor Christina Parker examine current approaches to managing pressure injuries at the end of life, identifying inconsistencies between guidelines and practice.

When a child is living with a life-limiting condition, many families hope to spend their child’s final days at home. In this blog, Tiina Jaaniste, Marisa Eamens, Therese Smeal and Sandra Coombs, share their study exploring the experiences of 11 community palliative care nurses across New South Wales. The research highlights key challenges in providing end-of-life care for children at home

In this blog, Dr Janani Thillainadesan and Professor David Le Couteur examine end-of-life care for people with dementia, highlighting the challenges of an unpredictable disease and the crucial role of hospital teams. They discuss current practices, successes, and areas where better planning and conversations could improve dignity, comfort, and choice at the end of life.