A study to better understand the needs of people with a life threatening illness who are having care to improve quality of life (IARE)

This study is finding out more about the needs and experiences of people with cancer or another life threatening illness who are having care to improve their quality of life (palliative care). Palliative care involves caring for your physical, emotional, psychological, and spiritual needs when you have a life-threatening illness.

Researchers in this study want to better understand the needs of people over 65 years (and their families) who have had palliative care so that they can improve services. The study is being carried out in London, Dublin and New York.

In each city the study is split into 3 groups of work. Group 1 aims to find out more about who has palliative care, what their needs are, and what does and doesn’t help with accessing palliative care. Group 2 will talk to patients, carers and health professionals to find out what helps and blocks access to specialist palliative care. And, what helps give patients back some control when they have palliative care. The last group will hear from unpaid carers after their friend or relative has died, to help improve services for patients and support for carers.

The overall aim of this study is to better understand the needs of people and their carers, in order to improve access to palliative care services in the UK, Ireland and the United States.