Table 1 Topics of the KOPAL conversation guide

Introductory question

‘How are you feeling today?’

Key topics

General points to be addressed

Living with the illness

Current care needs of the patient such as: rehabilitation support, admission to other health facilities, non-medical support (e.g. physiotherapy, social services, nutrition counselling), need for medical aids)

Physical situation

Current physical complaints and needs such as: symptoms, medication (regular or on-demand medication), review of current non-essential treatment, side-effects

Emotional situation

Current emotional complaints and needs such as: restlessness, anxiety, joy, loneliness, coping-strategies

Personal situation

Current cultural, sexual and emotional needs such as: cultural: migration background, sexual: physical closeness, relationship problems, homosexuality, gender identity, spiritual: religion, spiritual needs, pastoral care, meaningful life

Social situation

Current social relations, social activities, social support such as: daily activities, social integration, social activities (e.g. parlour games, walks), social support (e.g. Caritas, Red Cross), coping with daily activities, communication

Information and communication

Current information level und communication needs such as: illness knowledge, course of the illness, emergency needs, shared decision making, practical assistance (e.g. logopaedic, ophthalmology, audiology, translation service, self-help group)

Control and autonomy

Current needs on control and autonomy (advance care planning) such as: living will, power of attorney, treatment plan, care plan near to death, preferred place of care (e.g. care support, hospice service), burial (in Germany with reference to §132g SGB V Gesundheitliche Versorgungsplanung für die letzte Lebensphase)

Emergency management

Arrangements of emergency situations such as: emergency medical form (Ärztlicher Notfallbogen, ÄNo), “do not resuscitate”, emergency service of the Association of Statutory Health Insurance Physicians (KV-Notdienst), emergency home care, list of national and personal emergency numbers / contact numbers

Final question

‘We talked about different issues. What is your main topic or main concern?’