title: A palliative care hotline for multiple sclerosis: A pilot feasibility study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Research findings suggest that patients severely affected by multiple sclerosis benefit from palliative care. Our objectives were to (1) implement a pilot palliative care counseling hotline for severely affected multiple sclerosis patients and their caregivers in order to connect them to palliative care, and (2) evaluate its preliminary feasibility through a pilot study.
  
  
  METHODS
  The hotline was designed in cooperation with the local state association of the German Multiple Sclerosis Society and based on a review of the literature. The initial study setting for the hotline was the broader region of the cities Cologne and Bonn in Germany. The hotline was introduced through a magazine published by the German Multiple Sclerosis Society and leaflets sent to local healthcare providers. Calls were conducted using a semistructured interview guide and documented by a standardized case report form. Measures to assess feasibility were both quantitative (e.g., number of calls) and qualitative (e.g., criteria for eligibility for palliative care).
  
  
  RESULTS
  During its pilot year, the hotline received 18 calls. Some 15 callers were included in the analysis, and 10 of these 15 were deemed eligible for palliative care due to such criteria as medical characteristics, care or nursing conditions, caregiver strain, and concerns regarding death and dying. Access to palliative care services could be provided for all 10 callers.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Based on our pilot feasibility study, the hotline seems to be a valuable service for patients severely affected by multiple sclerosis (MS) and their caregivers in order to gain information about and access to palliative care. It will be extended on a nationwide scale through a grant of the German Multiple Sclerosis Society. Awareness of the hotline needs to be enhanced in order to attract and support a significant number of new callers.
authors.affiliation: Department of Palliative Medicine,University Hospital,Cologne,Germany.
authors.forename: Andrea K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Knies
authors.affiliation: Department of Palliative Medicine,University Hospital,Cologne,Germany.
authors.forename: Heidrun
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Golla
authors.affiliation: Department of Palliative Medicine,University Hospital,Cologne,Germany.
authors.forename: Julia
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0003-3135-2693
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Strupp
authors.affiliation: Department of Palliative Medicine,University Hospital,Cologne,Germany.
authors.forename: Maren
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Galushko
authors.affiliation: German Multiple Sclerosis Society,State Association,North Rhine-Westphalia,Germany.
authors.forename: Sabine
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Schipper
authors.affiliation: Department of Palliative Medicine,University Hospital,Cologne,Germany.
authors.forename: Raymond
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Voltz
mesh_terms: D003376:Counseling / Q000379:methods*; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany; D015277:Hotlines / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000628:therapy*; D010166:Palliative Care / Q000379:methods*; D010865:Pilot Projects
keywords: Hotline; Palliative care; Patient counseling; Severely affected by multiple sclerosis