Abstract
Background
The rapid growth of an aging population and related diseases has increased the demand for palliative care services. To address this demand, new public health approaches to palliative care have been devised in Northern Ireland (NI) and the Republic of Ireland (ROI). Researchers in Australia identified a gap in research in assessing the effectiveness of public health approaches to palliative care and developed the Death Literacy Index (DLI). The DLI provides a measure of death literacy at community and national levels and can evaluate the effectiveness of public health interventions.
Objectives
The current study will be the first to optimise and validate the DLI as a tool for evaluation of new public health approaches to palliative care in NI and ROI. Content validity of the DLI will be assessed using a content validity index and the DLI will be refined for use in an all-Ireland population.
Design & methods
For the current study, participants will be asked to engage in a ‘think-aloud’ methodology where individuals will verbally communicate their thoughts immediately following a task. Participants will engage in a semi-structured cognitive interview where they will complete, review, and provide feedback on the DLI. Approximately 20 professionals working in the palliative care/end-of-life care sector and 20 individuals from the general population of both NI and the ROI will be recruited for this study.
Results & conclusions
The results will outline potential issues the respondents experienced with the DLI in terms of terminology, comprehensibility, and structure. The results will also outline suggestions for improvements, additions, and possible omissions to the DLI. Additionally, the study will highlight cultural differences in death literacy and allow comparisons between professionals and members of the general public and individuals with a varying range of palliative care knowledge.
Funding
This PhD is funded by the Department for the Economy Collaborative Award in Science and Technology (DfE CAST)
The rapid growth of an aging population and related diseases has increased the demand for palliative care services. To address this demand, new public health approaches to palliative care have been devised in Northern Ireland (NI) and the Republic of Ireland (ROI). Researchers in Australia identified a gap in research in assessing the effectiveness of public health approaches to palliative care and developed the Death Literacy Index (DLI). The DLI provides a measure of death literacy at community and national levels and can evaluate the effectiveness of public health interventions.
Objectives
The current study will be the first to optimise and validate the DLI as a tool for evaluation of new public health approaches to palliative care in NI and ROI. Content validity of the DLI will be assessed using a content validity index and the DLI will be refined for use in an all-Ireland population.
Design & methods
For the current study, participants will be asked to engage in a ‘think-aloud’ methodology where individuals will verbally communicate their thoughts immediately following a task. Participants will engage in a semi-structured cognitive interview where they will complete, review, and provide feedback on the DLI. Approximately 20 professionals working in the palliative care/end-of-life care sector and 20 individuals from the general population of both NI and the ROI will be recruited for this study.
Results & conclusions
The results will outline potential issues the respondents experienced with the DLI in terms of terminology, comprehensibility, and structure. The results will also outline suggestions for improvements, additions, and possible omissions to the DLI. Additionally, the study will highlight cultural differences in death literacy and allow comparisons between professionals and members of the general public and individuals with a varying range of palliative care knowledge.
Funding
This PhD is funded by the Department for the Economy Collaborative Award in Science and Technology (DfE CAST)
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Number of pages | 1 |
| Publication status | Unpublished - 07 Dec 2023 |
| Event | All Ireland Institute of Hospice and Palliative Care (AIIHPC): 12th Annual Palliative Care Research Network Symposium - Ashling Hotel, Dublin, Ireland Duration: 07 Dec 2023 → 07 Dec 2023 |
Conference
| Conference | All Ireland Institute of Hospice and Palliative Care (AIIHPC): 12th Annual Palliative Care Research Network Symposium |
|---|---|
| Abbreviated title | PCRN 2023 |
| Country/Territory | Ireland |
| City | Dublin |
| Period | 07/12/2023 → 07/12/2023 |
Keywords
- Death Literacy
- Death Literacy Index
- Palliative Care
- End-of-life care
