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Table 1 Target/ study population detailed for each work package of data collection

From: Primary palliative Care in General Practice – study protocol of a three-stage mixed-methods organizational health services research study

Work package

Target population

Proposed sample size

Sampling strategy

Ethnographic research

GPs; GPs assistants, professional caregivers

n = 30

The Institute of General Practice’s education and research network of n = 250 general practices; theoretical sampling contrasting: rural vs. urban; single vs. joint practice; specific palliative education vs. nonspecific palliative education

Secondary analysis

GPs, GPs assistants, professional caregivers

interviews:

n = 52

group discussions: n = 3

Existing data set of interviews / one focus group with GPs conducted within the ELFOP project; all interviews and the focus group are included

CIT

GPs, GPs assistants, professional caregivers, patients and relatives

n = 16

Theoretical sampling contrasting: rural vs. urban; diagnosis; single vs. joint practice; men vs. women

Analysis of Health insurance claims data

GPs’ patients identified as being in need of PC

not applicable

Health insurance claims data: all AOKN and BARMAR insured persons in Lower Saxony with palliative billing codes

PAR

GPs, community nursing teams, patients and informal carers, other relevant PC providers

not applicable

Theory-based purposive sampling [55]

Delphi study

GPs’ professional representatives and other relevant experts for health policy decision making and healthcare planning

n = 30

DEGAM; DGP; GPs’ chairmen / quality circles; the Institute of General Practice’s close links with GPs’ professional boards and associations (Hausärzteverband)

Consensus workshops

GPs’ professional representatives; health insurers; experts for medical education; and other relevant experts for health policy decision making and healthcare planning

n = 20

Two groups with approximately 10 participants each; theory-based purposive sampling [55]

Implementation of the intervention package

GPs’, community nursing teams, health insurers; and other relevant experts for health policy decision making and healthcare planning

not applicable

Exemplary test region in Germany (Lower Saxony) involving n = 8 general practices, as well as all relevant service providers and stakeholders in the respective region

Questionnaire survey (Summative evaluation)

GPs’, community nursing teams, health insurers; and other relevant experts for health policy decision making and healthcare planning

n = 130

Service providers, insurers, and other local stakeholders involved in the implementation of the tailored intervention package (Phase II) and from two exemplary other regions in Germany

Patient-relevant outcomes (Summative evaluation)

Patients and informal carers

standardized scales

n = 32

interviews

n = 16

Patients and informal carers attended by general practices who are involved in the implementation of the tailored intervention package (Phase II) and from two exemplary other regions in Germany