title: [Standard operating procedures (SOPs) for palliative care : Presence and relevance of palliative SOPs within the network of German Comprehensive Cancer Centers (CCCs) funded by the German Cancer Aid].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Standard operating procedures (SOPs) can contribute to the improvement of patient care.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  Survey the presence and relevance of SOPs for palliative care (PC) within the network of German Comprehensive Cancer Centers (CCCs) funded by the German Cancer Aid.
  
  
  METHODS
  In a descriptive survey, palliative care services within 15 CCCs funded by the German Cancer Aid were asked to rate availability and thematic relevance of (1) symptom-related, (2) clinical pathways and (3) measures- and processes-oriented SOPs using a structured questionnaire.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Pain management SOPs were the most common (n =11; 73 %). The most thematic relevance showed SOPs dedicated to pain management, care in the last days of life and delirium and other neuro-psychiatric diseases (each n =13; 87 %), followed by bowel obstruction, dyspnoea, nausea and palliative sedation (each n =12; 80 %).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There is a wide gap between availability and perceived relevance of palliative care SOPs within the network of German CCCs funded by the German Cancer Aid. It is obvious that there is a need for further development of relevant SOPs in palliative care.
authors.affiliation: Palliativmedizinische Abteilung, Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Krankenhausstraße 12, 91054, Erlangen, Deutschland. peter.stachura@uk-erlangen.de.|Arbeitsgruppe Palliativmedizin im Netzwerk der deutschen Comprehensive Cancer Center, . peter.stachura@uk-erlangen.de.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Stachura
authors.affiliation: Palliativmedizinische Abteilung, Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Krankenhausstraße 12, 91054, Erlangen, Deutschland.|Arbeitsgruppe Palliativmedizin im Netzwerk der deutschen Comprehensive Cancer Center.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Berendt
authors.affiliation: Palliativmedizinische Abteilung, Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Krankenhausstraße 12, 91054, Erlangen, Deutschland.|Arbeitsgruppe Palliativmedizin im Netzwerk der deutschen Comprehensive Cancer Center.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Stiel
authors.affiliation: Arbeitsgruppe Palliativmedizin im Netzwerk der deutschen Comprehensive Cancer Center.|Universitäts PalliativCentrum, Universitätsklinikum Carl Gustav Carus , Fetscherstraße 74, 01307, Dresden, Deutschland.
authors.forename: U S
authors.initials: US
authors.lastname: Schuler
authors.affiliation: Palliativmedizinische Abteilung, Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Krankenhausstraße 12, 91054, Erlangen, Deutschland.|Arbeitsgruppe Palliativmedizin im Netzwerk der deutschen Comprehensive Cancer Center.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ostgathe
mesh_terms: D002173:Cancer Care Facilities / Q000592:standards*; D003191:Comprehensive Health Care / Q000592:standards*; D005858:Germany; D006302:Health Services Research / Q000592:standards; D006801:Humans; D009313:National Health Programs / Q000592:standards*; D010166:Palliative Care / Q000592:standards*; D058996:Quality Improvement / Q000592:standards*; D013727:Terminal Care / Q000592:standards
keywords: Clinical pathway; Comprehensive Cancer Center; Palliative care; Quality; Standard operating procedure