[Palliative care in geriatrics - conceptual design and methods of a study to explore the viewpoints of different health care professionals and disciplines].

Palliative care is a comparatively new discipline. In Germany, it predominantly concentrates on patients who suffer from cancer. However, international experiences demonstrate that palliative care approaches could also be very useful in patients with other incurable, nonmalignant diseases, e.g. in geriatrics. A qualitative research project, performed by a study group working in health services research and public health, aims at the exploration of the viewpoints of different health care professionals and disciplines concerning the attitudes towards palliative care approaches in geriatrics as well as the potentials and barriers. This article describes the study design and the methodical approach.