German community pastors' contact with palliative care patients and collaboration with health care professionals.

The current level of palliative care in Germany is unsatisfactory. Health care professionals view the psychosocial support of patients and families and the collaboration amongst the different care providers as the main deficiencies. In this context little is known about the viewpoints of community pastors who might have an important role in providing psychosocial and spiritual care for patients at home.

Discrepancies in the viewpoints of different German health care providers on palliative care.

In many countries with highly developed health care systems, significant improvements in end-of-life care are strongly recommended. Up to the present, the assessment of perceived deficits predominantly reflects the point of view of experts in the palliative and hospice movement, with very little being known about the perspective of other professionals. The aim of this study was to assess the points of view of a wide range of different health care providers who treated or interacted with palliative care patients.

[How does executive staff of home care nursing services estimate the situation of palliative care?].

Experts criticise heavily the current situation of palliative care in the home care setting in Germany. They claim that the education in palliative care of all involved professional groups should be improved and specialized services should be adjusted. Only few is known in this context about the perspectives and attitudes of nursing staff, who is significantly involved in palliative care.

Hospital doctors' attitudes towards palliative care in Germany.

Experts from different areas strongly criticize the current level of palliative care in Germany, both inpatient and home care services. Apart from the experts' opinions, little is known in this context about the perspectives of hospital doctors working in different disciplines, such as surgery, internal medicine, gynaecology or anaesthesia. These doctors presumably treat many incurably ill patients with palliative care needs, but they usually have very little experience in palliative medicine.