Toward a comprehensive research agenda: exploring the health economics of palliative care in Australia

Chris Schilling; Cate Bailey; Katharina Merollini; Alison Giles; Cara Platts; David C. Currow; Elise Button; Fiona Runacres; Gregory B. Crawford; Gregory Merlo; Jaclyn Yoong; Jennifer Philip; Jennifer Tieman; Meera R. Agar; Patsy Yates; Peter Hudson; Vijaya Sundararajan; Hannah Carter; Nikki McCaffrey

doi:10.1186/s12904-025-01867-3

Toward a comprehensive research agenda: exploring the health economics of palliative care in Australia

Chris Schilling, Cate Bailey, Katharina Merollini, Alison Giles, Cara Platts, David C. Currow, Elise Button, Fiona Runacres, Gregory B. Crawford, Gregory Merlo, Jaclyn Yoong, Jennifer Philip, Jennifer Tieman, Meera R. Agar, Patsy Yates, Peter Hudson, Vijaya Sundararajan, Hannah Carter, Nikki McCaffrey

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

1 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

Background: Despite significant advances in the availability and quality of palliative care globally, health economics research to understand the value of palliative care in Australian settings remains scarce. To address knowledge gaps and foster evidence-informed policy, funding and practice, this paper presents a consensus-driven research agenda for the health economics of palliative care in Australia.

Methods: A panel of 27 Australian experts was convened, including health economists, palliative care clinicians/researchers, policy makers/government officials, and representatives from the national peak body for palliative care. Panel members completed a survey, participated in a forum and collectively drafted the research agenda.

Results: The panel recommended 16 health economics research priorities across four key areas: (1) person-centred outcomes; (2) costs; (3) economic evaluation; and (4) data and metrics. Specific priorities included: comprehensively capturing the benefits of palliative care for people with life-limiting illnesses and their informal carers; understanding the diversity of preferences for palliative care across the population; capturing informal caring costs within economic evaluations; embedding economic evaluation within clinical trials and health services studies; and quantifying the extent and location of unmet palliative care needs.

Conclusions: This paper outlines high-priority research actions to generate the economic evidence required for appropriate funding and resource allocation in palliative care. The research agenda serves as a strategic tool to help researchers address gaps without duplicating efforts. By focusing on these priorities, we aim to support the development of more effective, equitable and sustainable palliative care services across Australia.

Original language	English
Article number	276
Number of pages	9
Journal	BMC Palliative Care
Volume	24
Issue number	1
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1186/s12904-025-01867-3
Publication status	Published - 30 Oct 2025

Keywords

End-of-life care
Health cost
Health economics
Health outcomes
Palliative care
Palliative care metrics

Access to Document

10.1186/s12904-025-01867-3Licence: CC BY-NC-ND

Final published versionFinal published version, 1.28 MBLicence: CC BY-NC-ND

Cite this

Schilling, C., Bailey, C., Merollini, K., Giles, A., Platts, C., Currow, D. C., Button, E., Runacres, F., Crawford, G. B., Merlo, G., Yoong, J., Philip, J., Tieman, J., Agar, M. R., Yates, P., Hudson, P., Sundararajan, V., Carter, H., & McCaffrey, N. (2025). Toward a comprehensive research agenda: exploring the health economics of palliative care in Australia. BMC Palliative Care, 24(1), Article 276. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12904-025-01867-3

@article{a492d0a9a1fd4522b68ec95ad4e0075f,

title = "Toward a comprehensive research agenda: exploring the health economics of palliative care in Australia",

abstract = "Background: Despite significant advances in the availability and quality of palliative care globally, health economics research to understand the value of palliative care in Australian settings remains scarce. To address knowledge gaps and foster evidence-informed policy, funding and practice, this paper presents a consensus-driven research agenda for the health economics of palliative care in Australia. Methods: A panel of 27 Australian experts was convened, including health economists, palliative care clinicians/researchers, policy makers/government officials, and representatives from the national peak body for palliative care. Panel members completed a survey, participated in a forum and collectively drafted the research agenda. Results: The panel recommended 16 health economics research priorities across four key areas: (1) person-centred outcomes; (2) costs; (3) economic evaluation; and (4) data and metrics. Specific priorities included: comprehensively capturing the benefits of palliative care for people with life-limiting illnesses and their informal carers; understanding the diversity of preferences for palliative care across the population; capturing informal caring costs within economic evaluations; embedding economic evaluation within clinical trials and health services studies; and quantifying the extent and location of unmet palliative care needs. Conclusions: This paper outlines high-priority research actions to generate the economic evidence required for appropriate funding and resource allocation in palliative care. The research agenda serves as a strategic tool to help researchers address gaps without duplicating efforts. By focusing on these priorities, we aim to support the development of more effective, equitable and sustainable palliative care services across Australia.",

keywords = "End-of-life care, Health cost, Health economics, Health outcomes, Palliative care, Palliative care metrics",

author = "Chris Schilling and Cate Bailey and Katharina Merollini and Alison Giles and Cara Platts and Currow, {David C.} and Elise Button and Fiona Runacres and Crawford, {Gregory B.} and Gregory Merlo and Jaclyn Yoong and Jennifer Philip and Jennifer Tieman and Agar, {Meera R.} and Patsy Yates and Peter Hudson and Vijaya Sundararajan and Hannah Carter and Nikki McCaffrey",

year = "2025",

month = oct,

day = "30",

doi = "10.1186/s12904-025-01867-3",

language = "English",

volume = "24",

journal = "BMC Palliative Care",

issn = "1472-684X",

publisher = "BioMed Central Ltd.",

number = "1",

}

Schilling, C, Bailey, C, Merollini, K, Giles, A, Platts, C, Currow, DC , Button, E, Runacres, F, Crawford, GB, Merlo, G, Yoong, J, Philip, J, Tieman, J, Agar, MR, Yates, P, Hudson, P, Sundararajan, V, Carter, H & McCaffrey, N 2025, 'Toward a comprehensive research agenda: exploring the health economics of palliative care in Australia', BMC Palliative Care, vol. 24, no. 1, 276. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12904-025-01867-3

TY - JOUR

T1 - Toward a comprehensive research agenda

T2 - exploring the health economics of palliative care in Australia

AU - Schilling, Chris

AU - Bailey, Cate

AU - Merollini, Katharina

AU - Giles, Alison

AU - Platts, Cara

AU - Currow, David C.

AU - Button, Elise

AU - Runacres, Fiona

AU - Crawford, Gregory B.

AU - Merlo, Gregory

AU - Yoong, Jaclyn

AU - Philip, Jennifer

AU - Tieman, Jennifer

AU - Agar, Meera R.

AU - Yates, Patsy

AU - Hudson, Peter

AU - Sundararajan, Vijaya

AU - Carter, Hannah

AU - McCaffrey, Nikki

PY - 2025/10/30

Y1 - 2025/10/30

N2 - Background: Despite significant advances in the availability and quality of palliative care globally, health economics research to understand the value of palliative care in Australian settings remains scarce. To address knowledge gaps and foster evidence-informed policy, funding and practice, this paper presents a consensus-driven research agenda for the health economics of palliative care in Australia. Methods: A panel of 27 Australian experts was convened, including health economists, palliative care clinicians/researchers, policy makers/government officials, and representatives from the national peak body for palliative care. Panel members completed a survey, participated in a forum and collectively drafted the research agenda. Results: The panel recommended 16 health economics research priorities across four key areas: (1) person-centred outcomes; (2) costs; (3) economic evaluation; and (4) data and metrics. Specific priorities included: comprehensively capturing the benefits of palliative care for people with life-limiting illnesses and their informal carers; understanding the diversity of preferences for palliative care across the population; capturing informal caring costs within economic evaluations; embedding economic evaluation within clinical trials and health services studies; and quantifying the extent and location of unmet palliative care needs. Conclusions: This paper outlines high-priority research actions to generate the economic evidence required for appropriate funding and resource allocation in palliative care. The research agenda serves as a strategic tool to help researchers address gaps without duplicating efforts. By focusing on these priorities, we aim to support the development of more effective, equitable and sustainable palliative care services across Australia.

AB - Background: Despite significant advances in the availability and quality of palliative care globally, health economics research to understand the value of palliative care in Australian settings remains scarce. To address knowledge gaps and foster evidence-informed policy, funding and practice, this paper presents a consensus-driven research agenda for the health economics of palliative care in Australia. Methods: A panel of 27 Australian experts was convened, including health economists, palliative care clinicians/researchers, policy makers/government officials, and representatives from the national peak body for palliative care. Panel members completed a survey, participated in a forum and collectively drafted the research agenda. Results: The panel recommended 16 health economics research priorities across four key areas: (1) person-centred outcomes; (2) costs; (3) economic evaluation; and (4) data and metrics. Specific priorities included: comprehensively capturing the benefits of palliative care for people with life-limiting illnesses and their informal carers; understanding the diversity of preferences for palliative care across the population; capturing informal caring costs within economic evaluations; embedding economic evaluation within clinical trials and health services studies; and quantifying the extent and location of unmet palliative care needs. Conclusions: This paper outlines high-priority research actions to generate the economic evidence required for appropriate funding and resource allocation in palliative care. The research agenda serves as a strategic tool to help researchers address gaps without duplicating efforts. By focusing on these priorities, we aim to support the development of more effective, equitable and sustainable palliative care services across Australia.

KW - End-of-life care

KW - Health cost

KW - Health economics

KW - Health outcomes

KW - Palliative care

KW - Palliative care metrics

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=105020193560&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1186/s12904-025-01867-3

DO - 10.1186/s12904-025-01867-3

M3 - Article

C2 - 41162971

AN - SCOPUS:105020193560

SN - 1472-684X

VL - 24

JO - BMC Palliative Care

JF - BMC Palliative Care

IS - 1

M1 - 276

ER -

Toward a comprehensive research agenda: exploring the health economics of palliative care in Australia

Abstract

Keywords

Access to Document

Other files and links

Fingerprint

Cite this