Understanding oral history in palliative and supportive care v.1.1
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Understanding oral history with people in palliative and supportive care: A constructivist grounded theory study.
IRAS ID
251866
Contact name
Sam R Smith
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
The University of Sheffield
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 0 months, 0 days
Research summary
The aim of this study is to develop understanding of how oral history in palliative and supportive care is experienced by patients, families, volunteers and health care professionals. Oral history in palliative and supportive care gives people the opportunity to audio record memories for family, friends and as a public archived resource. The purpose of this study is not to seek permission to undertake oral history but to evaluate it.
Objectives are to understand the implications for practice in health and social care. This involves asking participants about the ethical considerations, challenges and benefits of recording an oral history interview. Consideration is also given to the legacy of archived interviews for family and friends, and within the University of Sheffield as an educational resource, including teaching in the School of Nursing and Midwifery.
This project builds on the work of the pioneering Oral History in Palliative and Supportive Care Project which began in 2007 at the Macmillan Unit for Palliative Care, Sheffield. The study will take place at St. Luke's Hospice, Sheffield, which also has a well-established service.
The study follows a constructivist grounded theory approach (Charmaz, 2014). This includes continuous collection and analysis of information via interviews in which participants review their participation. Three open-ended interviews following guide questions will be recorded with six participants, their family, volunteer interviewers and health care professionals. Interviews will be conducted before, during and after a history has been recorded. Using comparison of transcripts and researcher notes, interviews will build on emerging ideas enabling the participant and researcher to co-create key theories about their experience. Patient and public involvement has informed the project and is ongoing.
Findings will be shared with experts, patients and the public and contribute towards a working document on ethical implications and procedural duties to inform future policy making.
REC name
Social Care REC
REC reference
19/IEC08/0005
Date of REC Opinion
8 Mar 2019
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion