Topic List for Focus Groups on Depression in Palliative Care Patients
| Identification of depression in palliative patients |
| How do you recognize depression in a palliative patient? |
| Which specific complaints trigger you to think of depression? |
| What role do informal caregivers play in the assessment of depression? |
| How often do you recognize depression in a palliative patient? |
| Do you recognize or diagnose depression more easily in your palliative care patients after gaining more knowledge and experience in palliative care due to education and training? |
| How would you describe the process of diagnosing depression in a palliative patient? |
| Do you use guidelines or standards in diagnosing depression in a palliative patient? |
| What difficulties do you experience in diagnosing depression in a palliative patient? |
| Have you had the experience where you missed a diagnosis of depression in a palliative patient or have recognized it (too) late? |
| Management of depressive symptoms in palliative patients |
| What is your general management for depression in palliative care patients? |
| What is your specific management for depression in palliative care patients? |
| Did your approach of depression in palliative care patients change after gaining more knowledge and experience in palliative care? |
| How do you perceive your role as a doctor in managing depression in palliative care patients? |
| How are partners, spouses, and other close relatives of a palliative care patient involved in managing depression in palliative care patients? |
| Needs and solutions |
| What is needed in primary care to improve the identification and management of depressive complaints in the palliative phase? |