Completed Projects

On this page can be found a selection of research projects on which I have worked, along with publications relating to each project.

In 2009 I finished my PhD in sociology. The thesis is called

‘A sociological exploration of contemporary funeral practices in three Scottish sites: Tradition, personalisation and the reflexive individual’.

A copy of my thesis can be found here 

Peer reviewed journal articles:

Caswell, G. (2011-2012) ‘Beyond words: Some uses of music in the funeral setting’, Omega: Journal of Death & Dying, 64(4), 319-334.

Caswell, G. (2011) ‘Death as a fateful moment? The reflexive individual and Scottish funeral practices’ Sociological Research Online, 16 (3) 22 http://www.socresonline.org.uk/16/3/22.html

Caswell, G.  (2011) ‘Personalization in Scottish funerals: individualized ritual or relational process?’, Mortality, 16(3), 242-258.

Caswell, G. (2010)  ‘An exploration of coffin related rituals and practices in Scottish Presbyterian funerals’, International Journal for the Study of the Christian Church, 10(4),306-319.

Book chapters:

Caswell, G. (2019) ‘Local authority funerals in early 21st century Scotland‘, in Jupp, P. and Grainger, H. (eds). Death in Scotland: Chapters from the twelfth to the twenty-first centuries.  Oxford: Peter Lang. pp. 299-319.

Caswell, G. (2016) ‘‘We can do nothing for the dead’: The Free Presbyterian Church of Scotland’s approach to death and the funeral’, in Buckham, S., Jupp, P.C. & Rugg, J. (eds) Death in modern Scotland, 1855-1955: beliefs, attitudes and practices. Oxford: Peter Lang. pp. 301-318.

Caswell, G. (2013) ‘Managing death in twenty-first century Scotland’, in Hinerman, N. & Steffen, L. (eds) New Perspectives on the End of Life: Essays on Care and the Intimacy of Dying. Oxford: Inter-Disciplinary Press. Pp. 109 – 128.

Caswell, G. (2012) ‘Planning a funeral: the encounter between bereaved and officiant’, in Hinerman, N. & Glahn, J. A. (eds) The presence of the dead in our lives. Rodopi: Amsterdam. Pp. 117-138.

Other Projects

Exploring death and dying in the UK: patient, family and public perspectives.

Funded by Marie Curie, £157,004, co-applicant. Principal investigator: Prof. Kristian Pollock. Ran between September 2019 and March 2021.

Peer reviewed journal articles:

Pollock, K. Caswell, G., Turner, N. & Wilson, E. (2023). The ideal and the real: Patient and bereaved family caregiver perspectives on the significance of place of death, Death Studies. https://doi.org/10.1080/07481187.2023.2225042

Caswell, G., Wilson, E., Turner, N. & Pollock, K. (2022). ‘‘It’s not like in the films’: bereaved people’s experiences of the deathbed vigil’, OMEGA – Journal of Death and Dying. https://doi.org/10.1177/00302228221133413

Wilson, E., Caswell, G., Turner, N. & Pollock, K. (2022). ‘Talking about death and dying: Findings from deliberative discussion groups with members of the public’, Mortality. https://doi.org/10.1080/13576275.2022.2136515

Managing medicines for patients with serious illness being cared for at home.

A National Institutes for Health Research funded project, it ran from March 2017 to August 2019.  Principal investigator: Prof Kristian Pollock.

Publications:

Wilson, E., Caswell, G. and Pollock, K. (2021) ‘The ‘work’ of managing medications when someone is seriously ill and dying at home: A longitudinal qualitative case study of patient and family perspectives’, Palliative Medicine. https://doi.org/10.1177/02692163211030113

Wilson, E., Caswell, G., Latif, A., Anderson, C., Faull, C. and Pollock, K. (2020). ‘An exploration of the experiences of professionals supporting patients approaching the end of life in medicines management at home. A qualitative study.’ BMC Palliative Care. DOI: 10.21203/rs.2.13207/v4

Wilson, E., Caswell, G., Turner, N. and Pollock, K. (2018) ‘Managing medicines for patients dying at home: A review of family caregivers’ experiences’, Journal of Pain & Symptom Management, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2018.08.019

ACTION: Exploring the perspectives of patients, personal representatives, healthcare professionals and facilitators of an Advance Care Planning intervention: a qualitative study.

Linked with the ACTION randomised control trial. It involved Italy, Netherlands, Slovenia and UK. It ran from March 2016 to November 2018.

Publications:

Marieke Zwakman; K. Pollock; F. Bulli; G. Caswell; B. Cerv; J. J.M. van Delden; L. Deliens; A. van der Heide; L. J. Jabbarian; H. Koba-Ceh; U. Lunder; G. Miccinesi; C. A. Møller Arnfeldt; J. Seymour; A. Toccafondi; M. N. Verkissen; M. C. Kars (2019) ‘Trained Facilitators’ Experiences with Structured Advance Care Planning Conversations in Oncology: An International Focus Group Study within the ACTION trial’, BMC Cancer. https://bmccancer.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12885-019-6170-7

Marieke Zwakman; J.J.M. van Delden; G. Caswell; L. Deliens; F. Ingravallo; L.J. Jabbarian; A.T. Johnsen; I.J. Korfage; A. Mimic; C. Møller Arnfeldt; N.J. Preston; M.C. Kars. (2019) ‘Content analysis of Advance Directives completed by patients with advanced cancer as part of an Advance Care Planning intervention: insights gained from the ACTION trial’, Supportive Care in Cancer. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00520-019-04956-1

Bulli F et al. (2023). ‘Impacts of an advance care planning intervention on close relationships.’ Palliative and Supportive Care. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1478951523000482

Kodba-ˇ Ceh, H., Lunder, U., Bulli, F., Caswell, G., van Delden, J. J. M., Kars, M. C., Korfage, I. J., Miccinesi, G., Rietjens, J. A. C., Seymour, J., Toccafondi, A., Zwakman, M., Pollock, K., & ACTION Consortium (2022). How can advance care planning support hope in patients with advanced cancer and their families: A qualitative study as part of the international ACTION trial. European Journal of Cancer Care, e13719. https://doi.org/10.1111/ecc.13719

10. Pollock, F. Bulli, G. Caswell, H. Kodba-Čeh, U. Lunder, G. Miccinesi, J. Seymour, A. Toccafondi, J. J. M. van Delden, M. Zwakman, J. Rietjens & A. van der Heide (2022): Patient and family caregiver perspectives of Advance Care Planning: qualitative findings from the ACTION cluster randomised controlled trial of an adapted respecting choices intervention, Mortality, DOI: 10.1080/13576275.2022.2107424

Cascading knowledge about end of life care at home: the development and piloting of a training programme for those who help carers and a carer resource pack.

Action research project: development and piloting of a training programme for volunteers and support workers who help carers providing home based end of life care. Principal investigator Prof Jane Seymour. Funded by Marie Curie, it ran from December 2012 to June 2015.

Publications:

Caswell, G., Hardy, B., Ewing, G., Kennedy, S. and Seymour, J. (2017) ‘Supporting family carers in home-based end of life care: using participatory action research to develop a training programme for support workers and volunteers’, BMJ Supportive & Palliative Care. http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/bmjspcare-2017-001317

Seymour, J., Hardy, B. and Caswell, G. (2015) ‘Supporting carers in end of life care: an introductory programme’. http://www.nottingham.ac.uk/helm/dev/end_of_life/

Lung cancer diagnosed following emergency admission: improving patient experiences and outcomes.

Develop an understanding of the characteristics, needs, experiences and outcomes of patients who are diagnosed with lung cancer following an emergency admission to hospital. Principal investigator Dr Andrew Wilcock. Funded by Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation, £77,000, co-applicant. It ran from December 2012 to May 2014.

Publications:

Caswell, G., Seymour, J., Crosby, V., Hussain, A., Manderson, C., Farnan, S., Freer, S., Freemantle, A., Littlewood, F and Wilcock, A. (2017) ‘Lung cancer diagnosed following an emergency admission: exploring patient and carer perspectives on delay in seeking help’, Supportive Care in Cancer, 25(7), 2259-2266 doi:10.1007/s00520-017-3633-8

Wilcock, A., Crosby, V., Hussain, A., McKeever, T.M., Manderson, C., Farnan, S., Freer, S., Freemantle, A., Littlewood, F., Caswell, G. and Seymour, J. (2016). ‘Lung cancer diagnosed following an emergency admission: Mixed methods study of the management, outcomes and needs and experiences of patients and carers’.  Respiratory Medicine, 114, 38-45.  doi:10.1016/j.rmed.2016.03.006

Caring for frail or seriously ill older people on acute hospital wards.

Study of end of life care in the acute hospital for patients with dementia, and funded by the Alzheimer’s Society. Principal investigator Dr Kristian Pollock, it ran from June 2010 to November 2012.

Publications:

Caswell, G., Pollock, K., Harwood, R. and Porock, D. (2015). ‘Communication between family carers and health professionals about end-of-life care for older people in the acute hospital setting: a qualitative study’, BMC Palliative Care, 14:35  DOI 10.1186/s12904-015-0032-0   http://www.biomedcentral.com/1472-684X/14/35

Pollock, K., Caswell, G., Harwood, R., Whittaker, B. and Porock, D. (2014) ‘Every death is different. The hospital as a place of death for frail older people’. http://sonet.nottingham.ac.uk/rlos/placs/edd/index.html
Pollock, K., Caswell, G., Harwood, R., Whittaker, B. and Porock, D. (2014) ‘Dying in hospital. The hospital as a place of death for frail older people’. http://sonet.nottingham.ac.uk/rlos/placs/dih/index.html