Department of Palliative Medicine, University Hospital of Cologne, Germany.
Palliat Med. 2012 Mar;26(2):139-51. doi: 10.1177/0269216311401465. Epub 2011 May 4.
Research has only started recently to specifically concentrate on the group of patients severely affected by multiple sclerosis (MS).
The aim of this study was to assess the perception on patients' unmet needs by healthcare professionals.
Focus groups and expert interviews were recorded, transcribed verbatim and analysed by qualitative content analysis.
Unmet needs were identified in four main categories ('support from family/friends'; 'healthcare services'; 'managing everyday life'; 'maintaining biographical continuity'). Whereas physicians assessed most unmet needs in the category 'healthcare services', nurses and social workers focussed on unmet needs in the categories 'support from family/friends' and 'maintaining biographical continuity'. Although the study focused on unmet needs of patients, professionals also voiced their unmet needs when caring for these patients. The group of professionals identified more subcategories than patients and included unmet needs of relatives.
Adding professionals' perspective to that of patients is essential to gain a holistic view on patients' unmet needs and to further optimize their care. The perspective of palliative care might contribute to meet unmet needs of severely affected MS patients.
最近才开始有研究专门针对多发性硬化症（MS）严重影响的患者群体。
本研究旨在评估医疗保健专业人员对患者未满足需求的认知。
记录焦点小组和专家访谈，逐字转录并进行定性内容分析。
在四个主要类别中确定了未满足的需求（“来自家人/朋友的支持”；“医疗保健服务”；“管理日常生活”；“维持传记连续性”）。尽管医生评估了“医疗保健服务”类别中的大多数未满足需求，但护士和社会工作者关注的是“家人/朋友的支持”和“维持传记连续性”类别中的未满足需求。尽管该研究专注于患者的未满足需求，但专业人员在照顾这些患者时也表达了他们的未满足需求。专业人员确定的子类别比患者多，并包括了亲属的未满足需求。
将专业人员的观点与患者的观点相结合对于全面了解患者的未满足需求并进一步优化他们的护理至关重要。姑息治疗的观点可能有助于满足严重影响的 MS 患者的未满足需求。
