ITV-Pal programme: protocol of evaluation of the implementation of tech-volunteer programme in palliative care services

• Published in: BMJ open Vol. 13; no. 8; p. e065222
• Main Authors: Barnestein-Fonseca, Pilar, Víbora-Martín, Eva, Ruiz-Torreras, Inmaculada, Chapinal-Bascón, Helena, Martín-Roselló, Maria Luisa, Gómez-García, Rafael
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London BMJ Publishing Group LTD 24.08.2023; BMJ Publishing Group
• Series: Protocol
• Subjects: Caregivers; Intervention; Interviews; Loneliness; Palliative Care; Patients; Technophobia; Telemedicine; Volunteers
• ISSN: 2044-6055; 2044-6055
• DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2022-065222

Introduction Volunteer support for patients and families at the end of life provides many benefits for the beneficiaries. New technologies could be a necessary resource in the accompaniment although, if there is little literature on palliative care volunteering in general, specifically on volunteering and new technologies, we find little information on the subject. Therefore, the aim of this study is to implement and evaluate a training program for palliative care volunteers using new technologies in order to begin accompanying patients and families in hospital or at home. Methods and analysis A mixed-method study design will be conducted. We will recruit 20 volunteers and 70 patients in two years. Intervention: training of volunteers in new technologies and volunteer accompaniment of patients/relatives using technologies. The control group will accompany patients as usual. Ethics and dissemination Ethics approval for the ITV-Pal Programme project was granted by the Malaga Regional Research Ethics Committee. As new knowledge is gained from this project, findings will be disseminated through publications, presentations and feedback to clinicians who are participating in this study. Trial registration number NCT04900103 .