1.Introduction
On behalf of the EAN Scientific Panel on Palliative Care, you are invited to take part in this survey and contribute to the development of a set of Surprise Questions, designed specifically for people living with long-term neurological conditions (PwLTNC).
These questions aim to support clinicians in identifying patients who may benefit from palliative care involvement.
You may be familiar with the traditional Surprise Question used in palliative care: “Would you be surprised if this patient died within the next 12 months?” This is a well-established tool for identifying patients at high risk of one-year mortality who may have unmet palliative care needs. However, this question may be less appropriate for people with neurological disorders, where disease trajectories are often prolonged and unpredictable, and where substantial palliative care needs may arise long before the end of life.
We would therefore greatly appreciate your views as we aim to develop questions that are more suitable for this population and more reflective of the clinical realities of neurological care.
Thanks for participating!