The International End-of-Life Doula Symposium Report

Krawczyk, M. , Clare, E., Collins, E., Johnson, E., Mallmes, J., Mallon, A., Farr, S., Oberle, K. and Rigal, J. (2022) The International End-of-Life Doula Symposium Report. Documentation. University of Glasgow, Dumfries. (doi: 10.36399/gla.pubs.281490).

Abstract

End-of-Life Doulas (EOLDs) hold the potential to reconfigure the culture and care practices of dying, death, and bereavement. Over the last few years public and health care interest in the role and services has developed exponentially within specific countries, particularly within the global North. To date, there have been few opportunities for practitioners to collectively discuss their work and interests within an international context. The International End-of-Life Doula (EOLD2022) Symposium was designed as a facilitated virtual space for discussions about these issues within an international context. It was the first international symposium or conference of its kind. This report summarizes the events of the symposium, held over three days on April 25-27th 2022, and highlights our next steps in developing an international research working group. The symposium was a co-produced effort, emphasizing collaboration and direct engagement with practitioners in creating a shared space to: 1) understand better individual practices and local priorities; 2) explore overlap and differences in regional/national practices and concerns; and 3) to map future interests across an international landscape. Project collaborators were solicited from the four countries where EOLD are most active: Australia; Canada; the United States; and the UK. Symposium participants were drawn from collaborators’ professional networks. Countries represented during the sessions included Canada, the UK, the US, Australia, Spain, Sweden, and Columbia. The EOLD2022 Symposium was part of a project funded by an Impact Acceleration Grant from the UKRI/Economic and Social Science Research Council User Engagement Fund, led by Dr Marian Krawczyk at the University of Glasgow. The funding has been established in recognition of the idea that high levels of engagement across different stakeholders can lead to more productive collaboration and effective, sustainable outcomes for academic and non-academic partners. Collectively, this invitation-only symposium is part of a larger project which is designed to generate international cooperation and collaboration, facilitate peer learning and skills sharing, and support policy development for end-of-life care both nationally and internationally.

• Item Type: Research Reports or Papers (Documentation)
• Additional Information: The End-of-Life Doula Symposium was funded by an Impact Acceleration Account, through the UKRI and the ESRC.
• Status: Published
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Krawczyk, Dr Marian
• Authors: Krawczyk, M., Clare, E., Collins, E., Johnson, E., Mallmes, J., Mallon, A., Farr, S., Oberle, K., and Rigal, J.
• College/School: College of Social Sciences > School of Social & Environmental Sustainability
• Publisher: University of Glasgow
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2022 The Authors
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced with the permission of the authors