Lung-Pal-Equity Study

• Research type

  Research Study

• Full title

  Understanding and addressing socio-economic inequalities in access to and experience of palliative care for those with lung disease (Lung-Pal-Equity Study )

• IRAS ID

  363620

• Contact name

  Donna Wakefield

• Contact email

  donna.wakefield1@nhs.net

• Sponsor organisation

  University of Hull

• Duration of Study in the UK

  1 years, 3 months, 1 days

• Research summary

  
  Advanced lung disease, including lung cancer and COPD, leads to over 70,000 deaths in the UK per year. These illnesses cause distressing symptoms such as breathlessness and pain. Palliative care can improve symptoms and support patients and their families from the time of diagnosis until end-of-life. Research shows that most people prefer to avoid unnecessary hospital admissions in their final months of life and to die at home. Time spent in hospital puts significant pressure on hospital services and financial strain on the NHS. Palliative care can help people to plan for the future, including avoiding admission to hospital. People living in poorer areas are more likely to have serious lung disease than those in more affluent areas, but they are the least likely to receive palliative care, are more likely to spend time in hospital and to die in hospital. It is important to ask people with lung disease, living in socio-economically deprived areas, as well as carers and healthcare professionals, about their experiences to understand barriers to receiving high-quality palliative care and to identify potential solutions to overcome inequalities.

  In this study, patients and carers will share their views with a single qualitative interview. They will be provided with information about the study through their clinical team (hospital clinician, medical examiner/bereavement team/GP/adverts/support groups). Only those who agree and give permission will have their contact details shared with the researcher. Healthcare professionals in the researcher’s professional network will be emailed to invite them to either attend a focus group or an interview. The findings will be shared with healthcare professionals, policymakers and the public through publications, conferences and webinars to reduce inequalities and improve care for those with lung disease living in deprived areas.
  

• REC name

  South Central - Hampshire A Research Ethics Committee

• REC reference

  26/SC/0142

• Date of REC Opinion

  18 May 2026

• REC opinion

  Further Information Favourable Opinion