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The EAPC Task Force on the Development of Palliative Care in Europe
Method
The World Health Organization (WHO) definition of the European region has been considered to determine the countries to be included in the study.
Figure 1. The WHO European Region (available at http://www.euro.who.int/countryinformation)
As a result, the following 52 countries have been explored:
| Albania |
Czech Republic |
Israel |
Poland |
Sweden |
| Andorra |
Denmark |
Italy |
Portugal |
Switzerland |
| Armenia |
Estonia |
Kazakhstan |
Republic of Moldova |
Tajikistan |
| Austria |
Finland |
Kyrgyzstan |
Republic of Macedonia |
Turkey |
| Azerbaijan |
France |
Latvia |
Romania |
Turkmenistan |
| Belarus |
Georgia |
Lithuania |
Russian |
Federation Ukraine |
| Belgium |
Germany |
Luxembourg |
San Marino |
United Kingdom |
| Bosnia and Herzegovina |
Greece |
Malta |
Serbia and Montenegro |
Uzbekistan |
| Bulgaria |
Hungary |
Monaco |
Slovakia |
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| Croatia |
Iceland |
Netherlands |
Slovenia |
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| Cyprus |
Ireland |
Norway |
Spain |
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A combination of research methods have been used to gather information relevant to the development of palliative care in each European country:
1. A review of the literature following the principles of systematic searching to appraise and summarize the information on palliative care in Europe published in English, French or Spanish during the 1995-2005 period.
2. A search of national directories of services and web sites for information relevant to palliative and end of life care in Europe.
3. A qualitative survey, named “Palliative Care Euro-Barometer 2005”, conducted amongst “boards” of national associations or similar organizations for palliative care in each European country to seek their opinions on opportunities for and barriers to palliative care, and their views on the current state of palliative care developments. In those countries where national palliative care associations or equivalent associations do not exist “expert informants” have been approached because of their palliative care expertise and active involvement in the development of the discipline in their country. Click here to view the Euro-Barometer questionnaire
4. A quantitative survey, named “Palliative Care Facts in Europe for 2005”, conducted amongst ‘key collaborators’ in each European country to gather concrete data and figures on the availability, organization and delivery of palliative care countrywide. Click here to view the Facts questionnaire.
A series of sources have been used to identify possible informants to the project:
1. EAPC members
2. IOELC contacts
3. HH and IAHPC palliative care service lists
4. expert advice
5. information on national palliative care organizations available on the web
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