The following lists palliative care research primarily conducted by Australian research groups. The list is based on application of the CareSearch search filter for palliative care to identify articles held within the PubMed database and corresponding to the strongest evidence. Articles have been selected based on relevance and new articles are added on a weekly basis.
Whilst not an exhaustive list, the aim is to keep the community informed by providing a snapshot of recent research findings and planned studies in the Australian setting.
Damarell R, Nicholls S, Tyndall J, Phelan C.
Background: Research evidence is fundamental to informing clinical decision-making and advancing palliative care practice. Although academic, peer-reviewed journals underpin evidence-based healthcare, they represent only part of the knowledge landscape. Incorporating grey literature from sources outside traditional academic publishing can: provide context, balance and diverse perspectives; address knowledge gaps; and mitigate publication bias. However, its decentralised and dispersed nature can pose challenges for researchers unfamiliar with its scope and diversity.
Aim: To present a flexible framework comprising 12 elements to support researchers in systematically identifying and locating grey literature relevant to palliative care across a broad range of sources. The framework accommodates variation in research focus, available resources, and context. Practical guidance is also provided for reporting grey literature searches with the transparency required in systematic reviews.
Methods: The framework was developed through expert consensus, informed by the authors' collective experience in systematic review methodology, grey literature searching, and information retrieval. It has been iteratively refined through teaching and real-world review projects. Each included source was assessed for its depth and breadth of palliative care content.
Results: The 12-element framework supports palliative care researchers in planning and executing searches across a wide range of fit-for-purpose sources. Practical examples are provided alongside a classification of grey literature source types.
Discussion and conclusion: This framework offers structured yet adaptable guidance to support more consistent grey literature engagement. Persistent challenges include defining search boundaries, managing duplication, record-keeping, and assessing quality. Future research should explore the framework's utility across diverse review types and palliative care research priorities.
Lock K, Goh AMY, Gerber K, Tropea J, Moore K, Lim WK.
Background: This study describes the protocol for a realist process evaluation of IMPART (Improving Palliative Care in Residential Aged Care Using Telehealth), to be trialed through a pragmatic stepped-wedge cluster randomized controlled trial in Australia. IMPART consists of 2 key intervention activities: specialist palliative support provided through telehealth and tailored staff education.
Objective: The aims of the realist process evaluation are to (1) identify and explore the contexts and mechanisms that enable or hinder the implementation of the IMPART intervention, and (2) develop and refine a program theory to determine whether and how successful implementation of IMPART can be facilitated.
Methods: We will conduct this process evaluation in 3 phases, guided by a realist framework. First, to hypothesize an initial program theory, we will review trial documentation and literature to determine how IMPART is expected to work and identify the barriers and facilitators likely to influence implementation. To test this theory in the second phase, a case study methodology will draw on multiple data sources (qualitative and quantitative) from 10 participating residential aged care facilities. These include interviews with staff involved in implementation, data on staff engagement with training, program documentation, activity logs, action plans, and facility information. In the final phase, program theories developed from the case studies will be refined through consultation with the IMPART research team. This will inform the development of a refined program theory that provides key information about what works, for whom, how, and in what circumstances in the implementation of interventions aiming to improve palliative care in residential aged care.
Results: This study was reviewed and approved by the Royal Melbourne Hospital Human Research Ethics Committee. The randomized controlled trial commenced in May 2023, with completion anticipated in November 2025. Funding began in January 2022. Data for the realist process evaluation will be collected between May 2023 and February 2026. As of October 2025, a total of 61 interviews have been completed. Data analysis is ongoing, and a publication describing the results will be prepared in 2026.
Conclusion: Applying a realist framework to explore process outcomes allows for an in-depth inquiry into what works, for whom, how, and in what circumstances in the implementation of complex interventions aiming to improve palliative care in residential aged care. This realist process evaluation has the potential to provide transferable, context-specific findings that can support the development of meaningful policy and accelerate practice change.
Massey CC, Conway J, Webster E.
Objectives: Frequent haemodialysis creates close-knit communities within treatment units, where high patient mortality contributes to significant grief among patients and staff. Despite the emotional toll, support for grief and bereavement in these settings remains limited, and recent data are lacking. This scoping review aims to explore how patients and nursing staff within haemodialysis units experience and cope with bereavement, and to identify support strategies currently used or desired to inform future, culturally sensitive approaches, particularly in Australia.
Design: Scoping review conducted in accordance with the Joanna Briggs Institute methodology.
Data sources: A comprehensive search was conducted using the Clinical Information Access Portal, supplemented by grey literature and the Elicit AI Research Assistant tool.
Eligibility criteria: We included literature exploring patient and nurse perspectives on grief and bereavement in haemodialysis units. Studies outside the haemodialysis setting and non-English studies were excluded. There were no geographical or publication year limitations.
Data extraction and synthesis: Two reviewers independently screened titles, abstracts and full texts, with discrepancies resolved by consensus. A data extraction table was used to collect study characteristics and key findings. Thematic analysis was applied to synthesise data across studies.
Results: 17 publications from 1998 to 2021 were identified across five countries. Grief and bereavement following patient death profoundly shape haemodialysis unit dynamics. Patients form familial bonds and experience deep grief when peers die, while nurses face emotional stress and burnout. Reported support strategies include memorial services, peer and staff support, counselling and debriefing and spiritual care.
Conclusions: This study describes grief experiences, support strategies and cultural implications in haemodialysis units, which serve a culturally diverse group of people. By consolidating available knowledge, this review provides a critical platform for future empirical work and calls for culturally sensitive support and larger, diverse samples in future research.
Myhill B, Bindley K, DiGiacomo M, Zhang L, Dash M, Gough I, et al.
Objectives: Many factors are known to influence experiences in bereavement. With a growing focus on public health approaches to bereavement support, it is important to further understand factors which healthcare workers (HCW) can influence regarding bereavement experiences for families. The study aim was to describe the experience of people bereaved following a death in Sydney Local Health District (SLHD), with particular focus on people's awareness and experience of available supports and the perceived impact of healthcare interactions on bereavement experiences.
Methods: The study used semi-structured qualitative interviews (n = 15) to explore the experiences of bereaved people. These were recorded, transcribed, and analyzed using a Reflexive Thematic Analysis approach.
Results: Themes were generated showing the ways in which healthcare and bereavement experiences are mediated by personal interactions; that information and its delivery are central to shaping experiences; and the impacts of healthcare and government system issues on experiences of care and access to support. Attention to these factors may positively impact end-of-life care and subsequent bereavement experiences.
Significance of results: It is illuminating to consider the results in light of proposed public health approaches to bereavement. Our findings assist in understanding the role that HCWs have in supporting preparation for death, providing care with the potential to prevent negative bereavement outcomes, and offering short-term bereavement support. This is key in planning models that acknowledge the essential role HCWs play within public health approaches to bereavement support. Findings can inform education and training in healthcare, with a focus on approaches that affirm dignity and positive relationships, ensure sensitive and timely information provision, and enhance skilled communication. Recommendations can support policy and system improvements to enhance bereavement outcomes.
Wand AP, Browne R, Zeng Y, Karageorge A, Peisah C.
Objectives: To triangulate the perspectives of mental health clinicians, older people with mental illness and their carers on Advance Care Planning (ACP) to develop evidence-informed educational resources.
Methods: The study setting was public mental health services. Results of previously reported reflexive thematic analyses of interviews discussing ACP with three stakeholder groups (12 older people with mental illness, 5 carers, and 15 mental health clinicians) were triangulated. The emergent overarching themes were considered within an interpretive description framework to develop educational resources to support each of the three stakeholder groups to engage in ACP.
Results: Four overarching themes emerged: (i) importance of ACP recognized but ACP often not initiated; (ii) knowledge gaps; (iii) skill gaps - how to do it; and (iv) practical and process issues. Taking into account the research team's knowledge of the local health contexts, two formats of educational resources were developed; written information sheets bespoke to identified knowledge gaps and needs for each group, and brief training films for clinicians addressing need for practical skills in ACP. The consumer and carer sheets were translated into three languages. Two brief clinician training films demonstrated introducing ACP within mental health reviews and how to address aspects of complexity in ACP with older adults with a mental illness and carers.
Significance of results: The current absence of specific educational resources for ACP with older people with mental illness contrasts with the recognized importance of ACP. Written resources were created to address empirically identified knowledge gaps and misconceptions and provide practical information and training films developed to demonstrate key skills for clinicians. The resources were made freely available, with dissemination planned to promote and evaluate use as part of a more comprehensive educational intervention. Resources supporting clinician, consumer and carer education are an important first step towards empowerment and participation in ACP.
Last updated 30 April 2024