Palliative care for older people - exploring the views of doctors and nurses from different fields in Germany.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Providing appropriate palliative care for older people is a major task for health care systems worldwide, and up to now it has also been one of the most neglected. Focusing on the German health care system, we sought to explore the attitudes of health professionals regarding their understanding of palliative care for older patients and its implementation.

Methods

In a qualitative study design, focus groups were established consisting of general practitioners, geriatricians, palliative care physicians, palliative care nurses and general nurses (a total of 29 participants). The group discussions were recorded, transcribed, coded and analysed using the methodological approach of Qualitative Description.

Results

Deficiencies in teamwork and conflicting role def

SUBMITTER: Brueckner T 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2706814 | biostudies-literature | 2009 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature