Preparation, information and liaison: conducting successful research in palliative care

Palliative care professionals are increasingly exposed to, and under pressure to participate in, research to promote evidence-based practice. This may pose challenges and tensions within normal working practices. This article draws on the results of a small qualitative study that explored the experiences of a group of specialist nurses at an independent hospice involved in palliative care research. By reflecting on their experiences and the difficulties they encountered, primarily with regard to obtaining informed consent from patients to take part in the research, this article explores issues relevant to practitioners and researchers when conducting palliative care research involving patients. It concludes by suggesting guidelines for conducting good quality research.