Research Project

Through a unique and innovative summer research program at Pacific Lutheran University, terminal illness is the foundation of a student/faculty research project. Sarah Cornell-Maier was selected as a research fellow for the prestigious 2018 Benson Family Research Fellowship. She is working in collaboration with Dr. Mark Mulder, a Professor of Marketing in the PLU School of Business. “Terminal illness has touched our own family members and friends,” Sarah stated, “and we feel it’s important to better understand the experiences of those touched by a terminal illness and to help provide resources in this important area.” For many it’s quite likely that a terminal illness may have touched the lives of a family member or a friend – and if so – the research team would love for you to consider sharing your voice and your insights in the research study. The team is looking to hear from either family/friends, or those involved in the healthcare industry.

Please see the study outline below, and if interested, send an email using the link provided to be contacted for a follow-up interview.

Family Members/ Friends of Terminally Ill Patient

We are a student-faculty team working under the Benson Fellowship in Business and Economic History at Pacific Lutheran University. We are looking at the ways people communicate with each other during a terminal illness. We are interested in the areas where people may find it hard to talk about terminal illness. One example would be whether to bring up the illness in everyday conversations. We are also interested in how that may affect the conversations people have with others.

From your answers during the interview, we are going to make a resource that will help terminally ill patients, their families, and their care workers. This resource will help them talk about different topics relating to terminal illness. To be a part of this research you must have experience with a family member or friend with a terminal illness (past or present). We would like to hear your thoughts in an in-depth interview. The interview will take between 30-60 minutes. For more information, or to express an intent to take part, email Sarah Cornell-Maier at cornelsm@plu.edu.

Care Workers of Terminally Ill Patients

We are a student-faculty team working under the Benson Fellowship in Business and Economic History at Pacific Lutheran University. We are looking at the ways people communicate with each other during a terminal illness. We are interested in the areas where people may find it hard to talk about terminal illness. One example would be whether to bring up the illness in everyday conversations. We are also interested in how that may affect the conversations people have with others.

From your answers during the interview, we are going to make a resource that will help terminally ill patients, their families, and their care workers. This resource will help them talk about different topics relating to terminal illness. To be a part of this research you must work or have worked in a facility that works with terminally ill patients. This includes Hospice and Palliative care facilities, either at home or inpatient. We would like to hear your thoughts in an in-depth interview. The interview will take between 30-60 minutes. For more information, or to express an intent to take part, email Sarah Cornell-Maier at cornelsm@plu.edu.