title: [State of integration of palliative care at Comprehensive Cancer Centers funded by German Cancer Aid].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Similarities and differences of integration of palliative care in clinical care, research and education structures at German Comprehensive Cancer Centers (CCC) are not known in detail.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  Provide an overview of availability and the way of integration of specialized palliative care at CCCs funded by the German Cancer Aid (Deutsche Krebshilfe, DKH).
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted structured interviews from May to August 2014 with heads of palliative care departments (personally or by telephone). The interviews included a quantitative and a qualitative part. Other stakeholders of CCCs were asked the questions of the qualitative part. We evaluated the qualitative data using the content analysis by Mayring and MAXQDA 11.0. SPSS 21.0 was used for quantitative analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  26 interviews were realized in 13 CCCs with 14 sites, which received funding, by DKH till August 2014 (one CCC had two university hospitals). Of these, 12 sites had a palliative care unit (86%), 11 sites had palliative care consulting services available (79%). Participation of palliative care specialists in tumor boards is not provided in 3 institutions (21%) and is often not feasible on regular basis in the other institutions, due to staffing shortage. In 7 sites (50%) defined criteria to integrate palliative care into CCCs were available. In the last 5 years specialized palliative care of 4 sites received an invitation for a research project by another department within the CCC (29%). 10 sites (71%) had started own palliative care research projects. Chairs in palliative care were available in 4 CCCs (29%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The extent and depth of palliative care integration in the 14 CCC sites is heterogeneous.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Berendt
authors.forename: K
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authors.lastname: Oechsle
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authors.lastname: Thomas
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authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: van Oorschot
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authors.lastname: Schmitz
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authors.lastname: Radbruch
authors.forename: S T
authors.initials: ST
authors.lastname: Simon
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gärtner
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authors.lastname: Thuß-Patience
authors.forename: U S
authors.initials: US
authors.lastname: Schuler
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hense
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gog
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Viehrig
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mayer-Steinacker
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Stachura
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Stiel
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ostgathe
mesh_terms: D005858:Germany; D006801:Humans; D055048:Integrative Medicine; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D016522:Oncology Service, Hospital; D010166:Palliative Care