Researchers: Dr Rosanna Fennessy, Artemis Paterson, Dr James Ward (Department of Engineering), Prof. John Clarkson (Department of Engineering), Dr Ben Bowers
Funders: Wellcome Trust Early Career Award [Dr Ben Bowers]
Partner institutions: University of Cambridge, Department of Engineering
Start date: 01/09/2023
End date: 01/08/2026
Project summary:
This innovative project uses journey mapping techniques from inclusive design and systems thinking to explore patients and families lived experiences of navigating the prescription and use of anticipatory injectable medications. Anticipatory injectable medications are used by health professionals in the community to control distressing end-of-life symptoms including pain and breathlessness. We analysed data from 23 interviews with patients, family carers and healthcare professionals, using journey mapping techniques to visually map where experiences of patients and families differed from the intended pathway for anticipatory prescribing. We highlighted several ‘pain points’ for patients and family carers in navigating this system and proposed areas for improvement.
Project aims:
Using secondary data from in-depth qualitative interviews, our study aims were to understand patient journeys in navigating anticipatory medication care, and to identify interactions with the greatest potential for improvement.
Project impact:
Our novel use of inclusive design and systems thinking techniques has great potential for analysing and visually mapping patient journeys against intended pathways and facilitating system-wide, patient- and family-centred learning. We will share our new data-driven methods and findings with applied healthcare researchers, commissioners and service providers to inform future innovations.
Further information, references, publications and presentations:
Palliative Care Congress 2025 oral presentation:
Fennessy R, Paterson A, Ward J, Clarkson J, Bowers B. 3 Mapping patient and carer experiences with injectable anticipatory medications in community settings: identifying opportunities for improvement BMJ Supportive & Palliative Care 2025;15:A2. https://doi.org/10.1136/spcare-2025-pcc.3
Wellcome Early Careers Award Project (Dr Ben Bowers)
Bowers B, Pollock K, Barclay S. Simultaneously reassuring and unsettling: a longitudinal qualitative study of community anticipatory medication prescribing for older patients. Age and Ageing 2022. 51(12): afac293
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