Background
The World Health Organisation recommends that family carers of people requiring palliative care should be offered optimal support from health and social care professionals. However there is a shortage of evidence based strategies to support family carers. Also, there are only a small number of researchers who are focusing specifically on family carer research in palliative care and limited research funding opportunities.
The inaugural meeting of the International Palliative Care International Family Carer Research Collaboration (IPCFRC) occurred at the European Association of Palliative Care Research Congress in Italy (2006).
Mission
To develop a strategic approach to palliative care research planning related to family carers of people requiring palliative care via establishing international partnerships and promoting information exchange.
Objectives
- 1. Promote:
(a) International opportunities for interdisciplinary research collaboration and publications; and
(b) Opportunities for international research visits/exchanges amongst members. - 2. Communicate:
(a) Outcomes of recent family carer research studies (including methodological insights); and
(b) Opportunities for research funding. - 3. Develop:
(a) Consensus based priorities for family carer research;
(b) Strategic alliances and possible avenues for ongoing financial support;
(c) Educational resources for family carers;
(d) Overview of family carer related interventions;
(e) Reference library data base of family carer publications (articles, books & resources); and
(f) Overview of family carer related research instruments. - 4. Foster partnerships with key research groups, policy makers, carer advocacy/consumer groups and service delivery planners.
- 5. Provide mentorship for developing family carer researchers.
- 6. Lobby relevant organisations for enhanced services/supports for family carers.
Collaborators and Governance
The IPCFRC operates under the auspices of the European Association of Palliative Care. In addition, the IPCFRC actively considers formal collaborations with other institutions (from all continents) and welcomes financial contributions in order to foster its mission.
The IPCFRC would like to formally acknowledge the following institutions that have provided funds* and/or 'in kind' contributions to assist in the establishment of the collaboration:
- Centre for Palliative Care Education & Research, St Vincent's and The University of Melbourne (Australia);
- Centre for Palliative Care Foundation (Australia)*;
- St Christopher's Hospice (United Kingdom*); and
- International Observatory on End of Life Care, Lancaster University (United Kingdom);
The activities of the IPCFRC are currently overseen by a Steering Committee comprising members from Canada, United States, United Kingdom and Australia and the intention is for a Board of Management to be established in due course.