The Global Institute of Psychosocial, Palliative and End-of-Life Care (GIPPEC) set out to expand its Quality of Dying and Death research conducted in Canada to Kenya and Uganda through collaboration with its partners, Dr. Faith Mwangi Powell and Richard Powell from the MWAPO Health Group in Africa, and the African Palliative Care Association.
The Quality of Dying and Death (QODD) Questionnaire evaluates the dying experience subjectively experienced by those involved. The lines of research in Canada have also assessed the quality of hospice and palliative care through the QODD measure. Currently the most widely studied and validated tool in North America, the QODD Questionnaire has not been employed in research in Africa. The need to enhance access to palliative and supportive care in resource-limited settings has become more urgent given the rise in mortality due to non-communicable disease.
The main goal of expanding the QODD research to Africa is to generate meaningful evidence to guide policy that can improve access to palliative care for individuals with advanced and terminal disease. This project further aims at building capacity among research teams to collaborate in a global context and strengthen GIPPEC’s international partnerships to foster sustainable development.
The teams have brought together expertise in research, education and project management. Research protocols were adapted to satisfy the ethical and practical requirements of the clinical and academic institutions in both Canada, Kenya and Uganda. The scales on the questionnaire were modified to ensure cultural competency. A training program was developed to train researchers to conduct interviews that are sensitive in nature.
As part of the Princess Margaret Personalized Cancer Medicine Strategy, GIPPEC along with its global partners work towards improving cancer care through research, education and knowledge mobilization.
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