Researchers: Dr Rosanna Fennessy, Dr Ben Bowers, Prof. John Clarkson (Department of Engineering, University of Cambridge)
Funders: Wellcome Trust Early Career Award [Dr Ben Bowers]. NIHR Applied Research Collaboration East of England
Partner institutions: University of Cambridge, Department of Engineering
Start date: 06/01/2025
End date: 30/06/2026
Project summary:
More people are dying at home, often with more complex conditions. Community health teams are responsible for coordinating and providing this end-of-life care. Clinical input for injectable end-of-life symptom management is increasingly led by community nurses, many of whom do not have palliative care training. Our research uses interviews with community nurses to understand how they navigate complex systems to support patients with timely injectable medication symptom control.
Project aims:
The study aim is to explore community nurses’ perceptions of how they navigate injectable medications processes to support timely end-of-life symptom control in the community. We are particularly interested in what works well and how nurses adapt to challenges they experiences.
Project impact:
Our study will highlight the critical role community nurses play in injectable end-of-life symptom management care and the ‘hidden work’ they carry out to join up care with patients and families. We will share the learning with policy makers and clinical teams to inform how cross-organisational systems can be enhanced to ensure timely, safe and effective injectable medication care.
Further information, references, publications and presentations:
Bowers B, Gwyn S, Yardley S, Hellard S, Clarkson J, McFadzean IJ, Pollock K, Barclay S, Carons-Stevens A. Learning from end-of-life injectable medication patient safety incidents in the community: a mixed-methods analysis. British Journal of General Practice 2025; Online First
Madden B, Bowers B. Sorted: an experimental interpretive poetry piece on injectable medications care at the end of life. Journal of Research in Nursing 2025; Online First.