Family Meetings in Inpatient Specialist Palliative Care: A Mechanism to Convey Empathy.

Context: Family meetings are increasingly used in palliative care, yet have little empirical evidence of their impact in inpatient settings.

Objectives: To examine whether relatives report more empathy after a family meeting in a specialist palliative care inpatient ward.

Methods: Pre/post self-complete questionnaires measuring relational empathy and information needs were administered.

Distance education methods are useful for delivering education to palliative caregivers: A single-arm trial of an education package (PalliativE Caregivers Education Package).

Background: Face-to-face/group education for palliative caregivers is successful, but relies on caregivers travelling, being absent from the patient, and rigid timings. This presents inequities for those in rural locations.

Aim: To design and test an innovative distance-learning educational package (PrECEPt: PalliativE Caregivers Education Package).

The nature of conflict in palliative care: A qualitative exploration of the experiences of staff and family members.

Objectives: Conflict is a significant and recurring problem in healthcare. This study aimed to understand staff and relatives' perspectives on the characteristics of conflict and serious disagreement in adult palliative care, including triggers, risk factors and the impact on themselves and clinical care.

Methods: Qualitative study of 25 staff and seven bereaved relatives using individual interviews, recruited from a multidisciplinary specialist palliative care setting in Australia.