Research
Articles
Exploring Technological Innovation in Palliative and Hospice Care By: Josephine Nanyonjo, Stephanie Busse, Eva Illion, Janay Rowland, Peyton deMoissac, Tapiwa Kalua, Laurensia v. Krisanti, Lei Vandenborre, Ella Silver, Caitrin Burke, Kyler Anglehart, and Callista Bast.
In partnership with the Central Okanagan Hospice Association, the PCC is conducting a rapid review to examine the potential of immersive technologies – virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), and mixed reality (MR) – in palliative and hospice care settings.
This research synthesizes existing evidence on how VR, AR, and MR can support symptom management, reduce pain and anxiety, improve quality of life, and create meaningful experiences for patients and families in palliative and end-of-life care. The findings will inform evidence-based recommendations for strategic technology investment and integration, ensuring that innovations meaningfully enhance compassionate, person-centered care and deliver genuine benefits to patients and families.
Facilitating Equitable Access to Palliative and End-Of-Life Care for Underserved Populations:
Palliative and end-of-life care seek to holistically improve quality of life for individuals living with serious illness. Despite strong evidence supporting the benefits of early and equitable access to such care, many individuals continue to face significant barriers. Under the supervision of the BC Centre for Palliative Care, literature reviews were conducted to identify key barriers and facilitators to access. The findings from this work contribute to informing health system design, service delivery, and policy development in Canada. The results were presented at the Knowledge Exchange & Learning Event Series (2025).
Literature Review: People Living with Dementia By: emily Bogusz & Elisabeth Antifeau
Dementia follows a prolonged and variable disease trajectory, typically spanning three to fifteen years depending on dementia subtype and timing of diagnosis. Throughout this extended course, persons living with dementia (PLWD) and their families frequently encounter inequitable access to appropriate care and services that incorporate a palliative approach focused on symptom management, quality of life, and goal-concordant care. The overall objective of this work is to identify existing gaps in care for individuals living with dementia and to examine facilitators that may improve access to palliative-oriented care in Canada.
Literature Review: People living with life-limiting illness who identify as Indigenous By: Sofia Knopf & Barbara Pesut
Indigenous Peoples living with life-limiting illnesses who seek palliative and end-of-life care often encounter systemic and structural barriers rooted in the ongoing impacts of colonization. These include historical and intergenerational trauma, misalignment between Indigenous worldviews and Western biomedical models of care, geographic remoteness, and socioeconomic inequities. Persistent disparities in access to and quality of care are further influenced by longstanding mistrust of healthcare institutions, limited availability of culturally safe and appropriate services, and insufficient inclusion of Indigenous voices and knowledges in health system design and delivery. The overarching aim of this work is to inform efforts toward reforming the Canadian palliative care system in ways that advance equity, cultural safety, and self-determination for Indigenous Peoples.