Project description
People with serious illnesses and their relatives often face challenges such as financial burdens, managing household tasks, administrative demands and much more. They feel helpless and alone in this situation. Although there are already a large number of information sources and organisations that can offer support in these situations, most people with the illness and their relatives are unaware of their existence or simply do not have the time or energy to seek out support.
Based on the study results from the projects ("Last Year of Life in Cologne" 2017-2020, " Sterben zu Hause" 2021-2023), the Department of Palliative Medicine at the University of Cologne developed the idea and concept for the Buddy Project together with the municipal initiative Caring Community Cologne and other partners from the urban community. The social project is currently being implemented with financial support from the German Television Lottery.
The Buddy Project is a social programme in which trained volunteer and professional buddies provide support and companionship to people with serious illnesses and their relatives during this difficult time in their lives. The overall aim of the Buddy Project is to provide the best possible care, adapted to the circumstances and needs of the individual, as quickly as possible and in a resource-saving way (website: https://buddy-koeln.de/).
The Department for Palliative Medicine is responsible for the scientific monitoring (=evaluation) of the social intervention.
Research questions
- What is the impact of the social programme "Buddy" on the quality of life of patients and their relatives?
- What is the impact of the social programme "Buddy" on the palliative needs of patients?
- What is the impact of the social programme "Buddy" on the burden on relatives?
- How satisfied are patients and their relatives who receive support from the social programme "Buddy"?
- What are the factors that facilitate and hinder the implementation of the social programme "Buddy"?
Methods
For the scientific evaluation of the social intervention, several data collection methods will be used over the period of the project.
- Quantitative survey of people with serious illness receiving buddy support at multiple time points
- Quantitative survey of relatives at multiple time points
- Qualitative interviews with people who are supported by a buddy (people with a serious illness or their relatives)
- Qualitative focus groups with professional and volunteer buddies
- Analysis of documents
