Research and outcomes

Find information on how Hospice UK supports hospices to be research and outcomes active. A focus on research and outcomes enables good quality care to be provided, described, evaluated and shared.

Why be research active?

In 2013, the Commission into the Future of Hospice Care published 'Research in palliative care: can hospices afford not to be involved?' It identified how important it was for hospices to be research active.

Being research active means that hospices use the right evidence, in the right way, at the right time to plan, deliver and evaluate care. It looks at how the generation and development of new knowledge, evidence and research questions can make a difference to people’s lives.

Download the report

research-in-palliative-care-can-hospices-afford-not-to-be-involved-.pdf

research-in-palliative-care-can-hospices-afford-not-to-be-involved-.pdf (1.2 MB document)

Read the Commission into the Future of Hospice Care's report, 'Research in palliative care: can hospices afford not to be involved?'

What is a research active hospice?

The Commission report recommended the adoption of the Research Framework for Hospices. This framework provides guidance for three levels of research-focused participation within hospice care settings:

Level 1: Research awareness in all professional staff
Level 2: Engagement in research generated by others
Level 3: Engagement in research activities and leadership in developing and undertaking research

Many research active hospices also connect locally, regionally, nationally or internationally with research and academic organisations. These might include research networks, universities, academic centres and other health and social care providers.

Hospice UK active research community

Hospice UK established a Research Community in 2017. This group consists of over 300 members, from all sectors, and covers multiple aspects of research.

The purpose of this Community is to be able to discuss, share and debate all the issues relating to research.

Joining this community gives members access to our bi-monthly newsletters as well as invitations to events.

Register for our communities and networks

You can register to join our research community of practice and receive our newsletters.

The monthly Zoom-based Outcome Measures in Practice ECHO meetings provide a platform for you to network, share learning and support each other with outcome measures.

Over time, membership, resources and relationships have grown and this network has developed into a Community of Practice. You may be using outcome measures in practice and want to develop their use further, or just be considering how to start out.