Barriers and needs in paediatric palliative home care in Germany: a qualitative interview study with professional experts

BMC Palliative Care

Research Article

Martina Kern¹  Tania Pastrana²  Lukas Radbruch²  Saskia Jünger²  Martina Pestinger²  Boris Zernikow³ 

[1] Department of Palliative Medicine, Malteser Hospital Bonn/Rhein-Sieg, Von Hompesch Str. 1, 53123, Bonn, Germany;Department of Palliative Medicine, RWTH Aachen University Hospital, 52057, Pauwelsstraße 30, Aachen, Germany;Vodafone Foundation Institute and Chair of Children's Pain Therapy and Paediatric Palliative Care, Clinic for Children and Adolescents Datteln, Dr.-Friedrich-Steiner-Straße 5, 45711, Datteln, Germany;

关键词: Palliative Care;    Health Insurance Company;    Palliative Care Service;    Domestic Environment;    Paediatric Palliative Care;   

DOI  :  10.1186/1472-684X-9-10

 received in 2009-11-04, accepted in 2010-06-02,  发布年份 2010

来源: Springer

【 摘 要 】

BackgroundIn North-Rhine Westphalia (Germany) a pilot project for an extensive service provision of palliative care for children and adolescents has been implemented. Accompanying research was undertaken with the aim to assess the status quo of service delivery at the outset of the project and to evaluate the effects of the pilot project. As part of the research, barriers and needs with respect to paediatric palliative home care in the target region were explored.MethodsSemi-structured interviews with 24 experts in the field of paediatrics, palliative and hospice care have been conducted and were analysed by qualitative content analysis.ResultsFour main categories emerged from the interviews: (1) specific challenges and demands in palliative care for children and adolescents, (2) lack of clear legal and financial regulations, (3) gaps in the existing care delivery, and (4) access to services. Generally the interviews reflected the observation that the whole field is currently expanding and that certain deficits are temporary barriers that will be resolvable in the medium-term perspective.ConclusionsPredominant barriers were seen in the lack of clear legal and financial regulations which take into account the specific challenges of palliative care in children and adolescents, as well as in a shortcoming of specialist services for a local based care provision throughout the federal country.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© Jünger et al; licensee BioMed Central Ltd. 2010