Participatory action research and hospice: a good fit

While research has always been an important component of the hospice movement in this country, increasingly hospices are involved in research as a result of demands for outcome measures and greater accountability. In addition to the more traditional research strategies, hospice researchers are encouraged to use participatory action research (PAR) in their efforts to better understand, document, and evaluate services. This article describes PAR and provides an example of a modified usage of PAR with a hospice program serving persons with AIDS. Whether used primarily in the planning phase of research or in conducting and reporting results as well, PAR maximizes input from those who know hospice best-staff, volunteers, patients, and caregivers.