German Version

Scientific management: PD Dr. rer. medic. Kerstin Kremeike, Prof. Dr. med. Raymond Voltz, Prof. Dr. med. Heidrun Golla
Research associate: Mareike Löbberding M.Sc.
Duration: 01.04.2024 – 31.12.2024
Funding: Endlich. Palliative & Hospice at Dr. Mildred Scheel Haus UK Köln e.V.

Hospice work is concerned with improving the situation of the dying and their relatives with the aim of raising public awareness of dying as an important part of life. Palliative care is closely linked to the hospice movement. It is defined as the active, holistic treatment of patients with an incurable, progressive illness and a limited life expectancy with the aim of achieving the best possible quality of life. The long-term goal is to reflect this context at the University Hospital of Cologne and to be the first university hospital in Germany to open a university inpatient hospice under the umbrella of the Department for Palliative Medicine.

The aim of this study is to show from various perspectives how the basic idea of integrated palliative care can be implemented in the first university inpatient hospice.

Previous studies have already aimed to show the different perspectives of the professional employees and voluntary staff at the Cologne Center for Palliative Medicine. To this end, the preferences and views on problems relating to the reality, processes and quality of care, as well as care deficits and target groups not previously considered, were identified.

Everest-KÖ III is now intended to investigate the perspective of patients and their relatives at the University Hospital of Cologne and in the Cologne region or in the catchment area of the planned university palliative and hospice center with inpatient hospice. In particular, experiences with and expectations of inpatient care are to be captured and care deficits and target groups that have not yet been considered are to be identified.

1. What expectations and wishes do patients and their relatives have of inpatient palliative and hospice care?
2. What experiences have patients and their relatives had in inpatient palliative and hospice care structures?
3. What are the possible advantages and disadvantages of a university palliative and hospice center from the perspective of patients and their relatives?
4. Which factors and requirements should be taken into account when conceptualizing a university palliative and hospice center from the perspective of patients and their relatives?

The project is a social science study that uses a qualitative approach to explore the views of patients and their relatives by means of semi-structured interviews. The interviews are evaluated using content analysis.