Access to hospice care for socioeconomically disadvantaged people (V1)
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Exploring the uptake of specialist palliative care services by socio-economically disadvantaged people: A Case Study
IRAS ID
239317
Contact name
Madeleine French
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Lancaster University
Duration of Study in the UK
2 years, 4 months, 2 days
Research summary
For those whose death is expected, specialist palliative care supports patients and their families through their journey. However, people who are socioeconomically disadvantaged are often less likely to receive this specialist care. Although there are many ways a person's socioeconomic position can potentially alter how they access services, it is not clear how different factors come together to influence use of hospice services. Using case study methodology, this study will explore the relationship between socioeconomic position and use of hospice palliative care services, focusing on the uptake of services by people who are socioeconomically disadvantaged. Anonymised hospice referral records will be used to analyse service uptake by socioeconomic group, using area deprivation as a measure of socioeconomic status. The findings of this statistical analysis will provide the basis for interviews with hospice staff, referrers, and patients or their families to explore the causes of any differences between socioeconomic groups. This data collection will occur in three different geographic areas - referred to as cases - in northern England. Better understanding of this issue will help providers reduce unfair differences in uptake of services between people in different socioeconomic positions.
This study is being undertaken by a student as part of doctoral studies, with the support of academic supervisors. All activities described in this application will be carried out by the doctoral student (hereafter referred to as the researcher).
Results Summary
This study explored whether people living in socially deprived areas have less access to hospice care and examined the factors that influence referrals to these services. Researchers analysed referral data from 8,699 patients across three hospices in North West England and interviewed 42 healthcare professionals about their experiences. The findings showed that people living in poorer areas were not consistently less likely to be referred to hospice care. Instead, access appeared to be influenced by factors such as how hospice services were organised, how closely hospices worked with hospitals, and the specific social and economic challenges within local communities. Healthcare professionals reported that issues associated with poverty, including financial difficulties, housing problems, and limited family support, could make it more challenging to provide care. Overall, the study suggests that hospice services can be organised in ways that improve access for disadvantaged populations, but it remains difficult to determine whether access is fully equitable because patients' needs vary. The findings also highlight the importance of recognising how social and economic circumstances shape people's end-of-life experiences in order to support fairer palliative care provision.REC name
North West - Greater Manchester West Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
18/NW/0460
Date of REC Opinion
20 Jul 2018
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion