Palliative Care and Intellectual Disability

People with intellectual disability are living longer, and like the general community, are experiencing illnesses requiring extensive periods of palliative care. This study, funded through a WSU Women's Research Fellowship Grant (2017), in collaboration with the University of Sydney and Hammond Care is being undertaken to understand the experience of multidisciplinary specialist palliative care teams in caring for people with intellectual disability who are dying. Individual interviews will be conducted with physicians, nurses, social workers and pastoral care workers to explore the extent and nature of their role, the facilitators and barriers to care, and future needs of palliative care teams. It is expected that the findings of this study will impact strategic planning and health policy and practice for this group.

We are NOW recruiting research participants - palliative care physicians, nurses, social workers and pastoral care workers -

Please see the links below or contact

Dr Michele Wiese
Tel: (02) 4736 0067
E-mail:  m.wiese@westernsydney.edu.au 

• Participant Information Statement (PIS) PDF, 70.05 KB
• Participant Consent Form PDF, 64.72 KB

The research team comprises:

• Dr Michele Wiese (Western Sydney University)
• Professor Roger Stancliffe (University of Sydney)
• Associate Professor Josephine Clayton (University of Sydney and Hammond Care)
• Dr Nathan Wilson (Western Sydney University)
• Professor Tanya Meade (Western Sydney University)
• Ms Bernadette Curryer (Western Sydney University)