Palliative interventions and acute respiratory care in Ireland

Action research methodology was used to support the integration of palliative care into the care of people with advanced respiratory disease. This action research project was based in an acute hospital and a key dimension of this project was the engagement of both the respiratory and palliative care teams, which contributed to the development of a communicative space. This was progressed through regular group and individual meetings, site visits, presentations and education. Of the numerous action cycles that emerged the following two are discussed; (1) professional development including an education programme for respiratory staff and regular death review meetings and (2) outcomes from collaboration between specialist palliative care and respiratory clinical nurse specialists. The inhibitors to the project, which included practical factors such as time and staff cutbacks; philosophical factors such as differences in professional epistemologies and resistance to changing perspectives on chronic disease management, are also acknowledged and discussed.