Birmingham St Mary’s Hospice is committed to continually improving the care and support we provide for everyone. Our research is a vital part of this.
We work collaboratively with researchers at universities and in other healthcare settings, and are actively involved in recruiting patients, carers, staff and volunteers for a number of research projects.
Our research is led by:
- Dr Christina Radcliffe, Consultant in Palliative Medicine
- Ruth Roberts, Research Nurse
- Camilla Barrow, Clinical Education Lead
- Alistair Hewison, Senior Lecturer, University of Birmingham
Birmingham St Mary’s Hospice is also keen to support other professionals with their own research. If you would be interested in using Birmingham St Mary’s Hospice as a site for data collection, contact info@birminghamhospice.org.uk
A member of the team will get in touch with you to ask you for information about your study. Usually this involves a short application form and your protocol. Applications and research proposals are then considered by our research steering group. You should apply early as the research approval process can take up to 3 months.
Our Research Studies
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TVT summary
An international, multicentre, open randomised parallel group trial comparing a two-step approach for cancer pain relief with the standard three step approach of the WHO analgesic ladder in patients with cancer pain requiring step 2 analgesia.
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Hydration feasibility study
A multicentre trial assessing whether clinically assisted hydration during the last days of life reduces the frequency of hyperactive delirium (‘terminal agitation’) in cancer patients as a result of maintenance of renal perfusion and the prevention of accumulation of toxins and drugs (i.e. prevention of dehydration)
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Econ End of Life
A study assessing how important particular factors are to patients approaching the end of their life, and how easy it was for patients to rank these factors.