Table 4 Qualitative analysis of the most important contents of the intervention (7 categories, 38 codes)

category

code

Control of symptoms (with medication)

Treatment of pain / opiate therapy

Treatment of neurological symptoms (fear, delirium)

Dealing with dyspnoea

Dealing with nausea

Dealing with chronic wounds

Dealing with sense of hunger / nutrition

Dealing with sense of thirst / fluid therapy

adjuvant therapies

Oral hygiene

Aroma therapy

Thermotherapy

communication

Involvement of relatives

To ensure openness with the patient

To permit ethical discussions

To respect patients’ fears

To address spiritual needs

Collaboration of GP and hospital

legal framework conditions

Patient’s decree (living will)

Attorney for personal care

Supposed will

organisation of care

Enable death at home by ambulatory end of life care

Use of hospices

To ensure personal setting / framework at home

To write a treatment plan

If necessary, integration of specialized ambulatory palliative care

change of focus

Personal approach: Patient’s (living/supposed) will and needs are pivotal

Focus on psychosocial support of the patient

There is no “golden path”

To question treatment and intentions.

There is a lot to do at the end of life.

others

The use of practical case studies

Reduced fear with end of life care issues

To experience that palliative medicine is an interesting working field of medicine

The personal experience of adjuvant therapies

To realise that level of knowledge needs to be extended.

The practical long-time experience of the lecturers

The lecturers’ attitude served as a role model

To learn that self-care for the treating physician is no egoism

The reflection of the personal medical action