Table 1 Characteristics of patient counselors and advocates participating in the semi-structured interviews
Inter-viewee | Affected by disease | Patient advocates | Patient counselors |
|---|---|---|---|
Salaried staff | Not affected | Interview 6: Employee of sickness funds | Interview 3: Counselor of colorectal cancer patients |
Salaried staff | Not affected | Interview 2: Medical anthropologist | |
Volunteer | Affected | Interview 1: Advocate of prostate cancer patients | Interview 7: Counselor of patients with thyroid diseases |
Volunteer | Affected | Interview 5: Advocate of patients with cancer related tumors | Interview 9: Counselor of woman cancer survivors |
Volunteer | Not affected | Interview 8: Advocate at the Federal Joint Committee (G-BA) | Interview 4: Employee in a consumer advice center |