title: [Austrian guideline for palliative sedation therapy (long version) : Results of a Delphi process of the Austrian Palliative Society (OPG)].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Palliative sedation therapy (PST) is an important and ethically accepted therapy in the care of selected palliative care patients with otherwise unbearable suffering from refractory distress. PST is increasingly used in end-of-life care. Austria does not have a standardized ethical guideline for this exceptional practice near end of life, but there is evidence that practice varies throughout the country.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The Austrian Palliative Society (OPG) nominated a multidisciplinary working group of 16 palliative care experts and ethicists who established the national guideline on the basis of recent review work with the aim to adhere to the Europeans Association of Palliative Care's (EAPC) framework on palliative sedation therapy respecting Austrians legal, structural and cultural background.
  
  
  METHODS
  Consensus was achieved by a four-step sequential Delphi process. The Delphi-process was strictly orientated to the recently published EUROIMPACT-sedation-study-checklist and to the AGREE-2-tool. Additionally national stakeholders participated in the reflection of the results.
  
  
  RESULTS
  As a result of a rigorous consensus process the long version of the Austrian National Palliative Sedation Guideline contains 112 statements within eleven domains and is supplemented by a philosophers excursus on suffering.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  By establishing a national guideline for palliative sedation therapy using the Delphi technique for consensus and stakeholder involvement the Austrian Palliative Society aims to ensure nationwide good practice of palliative sedation therapy. Screening for the practicability and efficacy of this guideline will be a future task.
authors.affiliation: Palliativkonsiliardienst, Mobiles Palliativteam, Landesklinikum Horn-Allentsteig, Spitalgasse 10, 3580, Horn, Österreich. dietmar.weixler@horn.lknoe.at.
authors.forename: Dietmar
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-8644-7887
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Weixler
authors.affiliation: Universitätsklinik für Innere Medizin I, Klinische Abteilung für Palliativmedizin, Medizinische Universität Wien, 1090, Wien, Österreich.
authors.forename: Sophie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Roider-Schur
authors.affiliation: Abteilung für Anästhesiologie und Intensivmedizin, Zentrum für Interdisziplinäre Schmerztherapie und Palliativmedizin - ZISOP, Landeskrankenanstalten-Betriebsgesellschaft - KABEG, KLINIKUM Klagenfurt am Wörthersee, Feschnigstraße 11, 9020, Klagenfurt, Österreich.
authors.forename: Rudolf
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Likar
authors.affiliation: Institut für Ethik und Geschichte der Medizin, Stefan-Meier-Straße 26, 79104, Freiburg, Deutschland.
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bozzaro
authors.affiliation: Abteilung für Neurologie, Palliativmedizinische Einrichtung, Landeskrankenhaus Judenburg-Knittelfeld, Gaaler Straße 8 u. 10, 8720, Knittelfeld, Österreich.
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Daniczek
authors.affiliation: , Lindenstrasse 5, 6020, Innsbruck, Österreich.
authors.forename: Angelika
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Feichtner
authors.affiliation: Mobiles Palliativteam, Tiroler Hospiz-Gemeinschaft, Hallerstraße 180, 6020, Innsbruck, Österreich.
authors.forename: Christoph
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gabl
authors.affiliation: 5. Med. Abteilung, Palliativstation, Krankenhaus Hietzing, Wolkersbergenstraße 1, 1130, Wien, Österreich.
authors.forename: Bernhard
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Hammerl-Ferrari
authors.affiliation: Institut für Ethik und Recht in der Medizin, Spitalgasse 2-4, Hof 2.8, 1090, Wien, Österreich.
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kletecka-Pulker
authors.affiliation: Institut für Ethik und Recht in der Medizin, Spitalgasse 2-4, Hof 2.8, 1090, Wien, Österreich.
authors.forename: Ulrich H J
authors.initials: UH
authors.lastname: Körtner
authors.affiliation: Mobiles Palliativteam Baden, Mühlgasse 74, 2500, Baden, Österreich.
authors.forename: Hilde
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kössler
authors.affiliation: Krankenhaus der Barmherzigen Brüder Wien, Johannes-von-Gott-Platz 1, 1120, Wien, Österreich.
authors.forename: Johannes G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Meran
authors.affiliation: Interne Abteilung, Palliativstation, Krankenhaus St. Elisabeth Wien, Landstraßer Hauptstraße 4A, 1030, Wien, Österreich.
authors.forename: Aurelia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Miksovsky
authors.affiliation: Mobiles Palliativteam Fürstenfeld/Feldbach, Krankenhausgasse 1, 8280, Fürstenfeld, Österreich.
authors.forename: Bettina
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Pusswald
authors.affiliation: Klinische Psychologie, Palliativabteilung, Salzkammergut Klinikum Vöcklabruck, Dr. Wilhelm Bock Straße 1, 4840, Vöcklabruck, Österreich.
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Wienerroither
authors.affiliation: Universitätsklinik für Innere Medizin I, Klinische Abteilung für Palliativmedizin, Medizinische Universität Wien, 1090, Wien, Österreich.
authors.forename: Herbert
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Watzke
mesh_terms: D001317:Austria; D016292:Procedural Sedation / Q000379:methods*; D003697:Delphi Technique; D006801:Humans; D010166:Palliative Care / Q000379:methods*; D012955:Societies, Medical; D013727:Terminal Care / Q000379:methods
keywords: End of life; Guideline; Palliative sedation therapy; Refractory symptoms; Unbearable suffering