Table 1 Study inclusion criteria

1.

Study design qualitative study, defined as:

   ○Data collected by talking to participants, for example, using in-depth or semi-structured interviews and/or focus groups

   ○Employing a qualitative data analysis method, either mentioned by name, such as grounded theory, discourse analysis, or interpretative phenomenological analysis, or indicated by the use of words associated with such techniques, such as hermeneutic, thematic, or inductive.

   ○The presence of at least one of the above criteria (data collected or analysis method) should be indicated in the abstract

2.

Study population participants (i.e., people providing the data) should have direct experience of volunteering or of others volunteering in end-of-life care, typically volunteers themselves, patients, patients’ (including deceased patients’) families/carers, or end-of-life staff. This should be clear from the abstract.

3.

Data #1 there must be extractable data about the role of volunteers in end-of-life care from participants’ point of view, for example, but not limited to, what they understand the role of end-of-life volunteers to be, what a volunteer in end-of-life means to them, or what is the contribution of volunteers in end-of-life care. Check full paper.

4.

Data #2 Data relating to volunteers can be extracted separately from that relating to other groups, such as paid staff. Check full paper.

5.

Care focus #1 examines end of life care, defined as care for people at the end-of-life, regardless of age or disease, including palliative care, in any setting (eg hospice, palliative care unit, home care). This should be clear from the abstract, but if in doubt, check full paper.

6.

Care focus # 2 focuses on care given by volunteers in patient/family-facing roles. Should be clear from the abstract, but if in doubt, check full paper. Care defined as activities volunteers perform in relation to patients/families or their implicit role in relation to patients/families.

7.

Reporting language is reported in English. Clear from full reference.

8.

Report format is not a dissertation or thesis or conference abstract. Clear from full reference.