We conduct fundamental and applied research into the development, implementation, and evaluation of Compassionate Communities; collect existing national and international evidence- and practice-based knowledge, tools and other resources.
Research in progress!
Check back soon for more.
Seminars
We hold public, international seminars twice yearly in which we bring together international speakers from research and practice backgrounds around topics relevant to Compassionate Communities.
Below you'll find the videos and slides from our previous seminars!
- 1st COCO seminar "Compassionate Schools" - 23 September 2020
- 2nd COCO seminar "Compassionate Art & Design" - 24 March 2021
- Introduction (Link)
- Keynote by prof. dr. Rebecca Hilton - "MY LAST PLACE: Tales from an artistic research residency in a residential care home (and other stories)" (Link)
- Julie Rodeyns - How to accompany someone into risk: a performance analysis of the immersive installation 'PURE' (Christian Bakalov), developed for and with the Belgian palliative and supportive day care centre of TOPAZ and its care-givers and care-receivers" (Link)
- Erika Sprey - "Reaching out to an unknowable other: dialogical performance at the intersection of storytelling, system dynamics and somatics" (Link)
- Prof. dr. Fabio Vanin - "Healing Luanda" (Link)
- 3rd COCO seminar "Mourning at Work" - 29 November 2021
- Dr. An Hooghe, clinical psychologist, relationship and family therapist, and founder of the expertise center 'Connection in Loss' gave a lecture about mourning in the workplace.
- For this, a sub-working group of the Compassionate VUB in collaboration with the 2 psychologists from BRUCC and the well-being coordinator Prof. Valéry Ann Jacobs developed a factsheet for staff on grief at work.
- 4th COCO seminar "Masterclass in translational research " - 21 April 2022
- In collaboration with the Brussels University Consultation Centre (BRUCC), we organized a masterclass in translational research for PhD students, given by prof. dr. Janis Whitlock.
- In this translational research masterclass, we explored how communities can address the mental health challenges of adolescents and young adults affected by non-suicidal self-injury, suicide, serious illness, death, death, and loss.
- 5th COCO seminar "The Value of Death" - 19 December 2022
- Dr. Libby Sallnow and dr. Afsan Bhadelia join us to talk about the Lancet Commission report on the Value of Death. (Link)
- Death, dying, and loss are universal human experiences, but the contention of the Lancet Commission is that they have become unfamiliar, disconnected, and unbalanced.
Master student thesis research
For a list of current ongoing student thesis studies within COCO, click here.
Publications - Popular articles
2022
- Liesbeth De Donder, Sarah Dury. 'Illness and grief deserve attention in caring neighborhoods'. Sociaal.Net, 2022. https://sociaal.net/opinie/ziekte-en-rouw-zorgzame-buurten-compassionate-communities/
- 26.01.2022, Luc Deliens, What happens when palliative care is neglected as a public health priority? EAPC Blog. https://eapcnet.wordpress.com/2022/01/26/what-happens-when-palliative-care-is-neglected-as-a-public-health-priority/
- 28.02.2022, Joachim Cohen, Does big data have a role in palliative care research? EAPC blog. https://eapcnet.wordpress.com/2022/02/28/does-big-data-have-a-role-in-palliative-care-research/
- 30.03.2022, Bert Quintiens, Compassionate Communities : a global expansion. EAPC Blog. https://eapcnet.wordpress.com/2022/03/30/compassionate-communities-a-global-expansion/
- 08.06.2022, Libby Sallnow, The Lancet Commission on the Value of Death: Understanding a realistic utopia. EAPC Blog. https://eapcnet.wordpress.com/2022/06/08/the-lancet-commission-on-the-value-of-death-understanding-a-realistic-utopia/
- 05.09.2022, Liesbeth De Donder, Ageing well and dying well in the right place: What Compassionate Communities can learn from Caring Neighbourhoods. EAPC Blog. https://eapcnet.wordpress.com/2022/09/05/ageing-well-and-dying-well-in-the-right-place-what-compassionate-communities-can-learn-from-caring-neighbourhoods/
Publications - Scientific Articles
Below are a list of our articles published in international, peer-reviewed scientific journals.
2022
- Bert Quintiens, Louise D'Eer, Luc Deliens, Lieve Van den Block, Kenneth Chambaere, Liesbeth De Donder, Joachim Cohen, Tinne Smets. Area-Based Compassionate Communities: a systematic integrative review of existing initiatives worldwide. Palliative Medicine 2022, Vol. 36(3) 422–442. DOI: 10.1177/02692163211067363
- Bert Quintiens, Tinne Smets, Kenneth Chambaere, Lieve Van Den Block, Luc Deliens, Joachim Cohen. Researching two Compassionate Cities: study protocol for a mixed-methods process and outcome evaluation. Palliative Care & Social Practice 2022, Vol. 16, 1-13. DOI: 10.1177/26323524221137601
- Hanne Bakelants, Steven Vanderstichelen, Kenneth Chambaere, Filip Van Droogenbroeck, Liesbeth De Donder, Luc Deliens, Sarah Dury, Joachim Cohen. Researching Compassionate Communities:Identifying theoretical frameworks to evaluatethe complex processes behind public healthpalliative care initiatives. Palliative Medicine 2022. DOI: 10.1177/02692163221146589 (E-pub ahead of print)
- Louise D'Eer, Bert Quintiens, Lieve Van den Block, Sarah Dury, Luc Deliens, Kenneth Chambaere, Tinne Smets, Joachim Cohen. (2022) Civic engagement in serious illness, death, and loss: A systematic mixed-methods review. Palliative Medicine. Mar 14:2692163221077850. doi: 10.1177/02692163221077850. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 35287517
- Steven Vanderstichelen, Sarah Dury, Sara De Gieter, Filip Van Droogenbroeck, Deborah De Moortel, Lisa Van Hove, Julie Rodeyns, Nele Aernouts, Hanne Bakelants, Joachim Cohen, Kenneth Chambaere, Bram Spruyt, Gabriel Zohar, Luc Deliens*, Liesbeth De Donder*; Compassionate Communities Centre of Expertise (COCO) Consortium. (2022) Researching Compassionate Communities from an interdisciplinary perspective: the case of the Compassionate Communities Centre of Expertise (COCO). Gerontologist. 2022 Mar 9:gnac034. DOI: 10.1093/geront/gnac034. Epub ahead of print.
- Steven Vanderstichelen. Palliative care volunteering: Pressing challenges in research. Palliative Medicine. 2022. DOI: 10.1177/02692163221089483. Epub ahead of print.
2021
- Julie Rodeyns, Alexis Joson, Tinne Smets & Free De Backer (2021). The meaning of art in palliative care from the end users’ perspective, Arts & Health, DOI:10.1080/17533015.2021.1942094.
- Steven Vanderstichelen, Leena Pelttari, Ros Scott. Evaluating the EAPC Madrid Charter on Volunteering in Hospice and Palliative Care: reflections on impact. Progress in Palliative Care, 2021. doi: 10.1080/09699260.2021.1964678
2020
- Steven Vanderstichelen, Joachim Cohen, Yanna Van Wesemael, Luc Deliens, Kenneth Chambaere. The Liminal Space Palliative Care Volunteers Occupy and their Roles Within It: A Qualitative Study. BMJ Supp & PC, 10, 3. doi: 10.1136/bmjspcare-2018-001632.
- Steven Vanderstichelen, Joachim Cohen, Yanna Van Wesemael, Luc Deliens, Kenneth Chambaere. Volunteers in palliative care: A healthcare system-wide cross-sectional survey. BMJ Supp & PC. Published Online First. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjspcare-2020-002321.
Books and chapters
2022
- Steven Vanderstichelen, Luc Deliens. Chapter 24: Complexities and Challenges in a Public Health Palliative Care Research. Oxford Textbook of Public Health & Palliative Care. Abel J, Kellehear A (eds). (Link)
Publications - Scientific reports
Below is a list of scientific reports published.
2022
- An-Sofie Smetcoren, Thomas Dawance, Daan Duppen, Nele Aernouts, Michael Ryckwaert, Liesbeth De Donder (2022). Care and Living in Community, CALICO. Evaluation report 2021. Vrije Universiteit Brussel