title: [Well connected - optimally cared for! : Beneficial factors of collaboration in hospice and palliative care networks in Bavaria].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The Bavarian State Ministry of Health and Care fosters the establishment of regional hospice and palliative care networks in Bavaria, Germany. Little is known about well-tried structures and beneficial strategies of collaboration within such networks.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The present study aims to investigate general conditions under which hospice and palliative care networks in Bavaria perform successfully and to explore modes of working, forms of organisation, and channels of communication.
  
  
  METHODS
  Data were collected between March and June 2015 in semi-structured interviews with ten coordinators and chairpersons of ten Bavarian hospice and palliative care networks. Results of this status quo analysis concerning aspects of network models and beneficial factors of networking were discussed in a subsequent workshop. The workshop took place in November 2015 with eight representatives of five networks. Individual interviews and the discussion of the diagnostic workshop were audiotaped and transcribed verbatim. Data were analysed with the aid of the computer-assisted qualitative data analysis software MAXQDA (Software für qualitative Datenanalyse (1989-2015). VERBI Software Consult Sozialforschung GmbH, Berlin, Germany). Hypotheses were formulated adapted from Grounded Theory.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Networking factors and characteristics are quite congruent. Beneficial and diverse factors identified by network coordinators and moderators represent three major topics: network organisation and coordination, communication and information channels, and public visibility.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Well-tried and established practices of networking are present in the hospice and palliative care networks included in the study. The experiences and visions of the networks will foster the compilation of a best practice recommendation for the establishment of new and the enhancement of existing networks.
authors.affiliation: Palliativmedizinische Abteilung, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), CCC Erlangen-EMN, Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Krankenhausstraße 12, 91054 Erlangen, Deutschland. franziska.herbst@uk-erlangen.de.
authors.forename: Franziska A
authors.initials: FA
authors.lastname: Herbst
authors.affiliation: Palliativmedizinische Abteilung, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), CCC Erlangen-EMN, Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Krankenhausstraße 12, 91054 Erlangen, Deutschland.
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Heckel
authors.affiliation: Palliativmedizinische Abteilung, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), CCC Erlangen-EMN, Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Krankenhausstraße 12, 91054 Erlangen, Deutschland.
authors.forename: Stephanie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Stiel
authors.affiliation: Palliativmedizinische Abteilung, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU), CCC Erlangen-EMN, Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Krankenhausstraße 12, 91054 Erlangen, Deutschland.
authors.forename: Christoph
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ostgathe
mesh_terms: D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D003695:Delivery of Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration; D005858:Germany; D006302:Health Services Research; D017051:Hospice Care / Q000458:organization & administration*; D007373:Interinstitutional Relations; D017146:Models, Organizational; D009937:Organizational Objectives; D010166:Palliative Care / Q000458:organization & administration*; D011785:Quality Assurance, Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration*
keywords: Bavaria; Grounded Theory; Health services research; Networks; Palliative care