Title

Palliative care education in the undergraduate medical curricula: Students' views on the importance of, their confidence in, and knowledge of palliative care.

Summary

In the first study in this dissertation, we investigated undergraduate students’ views on the importance of palliative care education, their opinions on the education they have received and their (self-reported) confidence in and knowledge of palliative care (n=222). The results showed that students consider palliative care education relevant, but do not feel adequately prepared for provision of palliative care and in discussing the psychological, social and spiritual dimensions of care. Training in patient-oriented care and communicating with the patient are not adequately covered in current Dutch medical curricula.

Abstract

Background

The need for palliative care is increasing. Since almost every junior doctor will come across palliative care patients, it is important to include palliative care in the undergraduate curriculum. The objective of this research is to gather undergraduate students’ views on palliative care in terms of its importance, their confidence in and knowledge of the domain.

Methods

Final-year medical students at four Dutch medical faculties were surveyed. The questionnaire measured their views on the education they had received, their selfreported confidence in dealing with palliative care patients and their knowledge of palliative care.

Results

Two hundred twenty-two medical students participated in this study. Studentsconsidered palliative care education relevant, especially training in patient-oriented care and communication with the patient. Students felt that several topics were inadequately covered in the curriculum. Overall, the students did not feel confident in providing palliative care (59.6%), especially in dealing with the spiritual aspect of palliative care (77%). The knowledge test shows that only 48% of the students answered more than half of the questions correctly. However, students were satisfied with their education in ethics during end-of- life care, which was reflected in their remarkably high scores in the ethics questions on the knowledge test.

Conclusion

The students in this study are nearly junior doctors who will soon have to care for palliative patients. Although they think that palliative care is important, in their opinion the curriculum did not cover many important aspects, a perception that is also in line with their lack of confidence and knowledge in this domain. Therefore, it is important to improve palliative care education in the medical curriculum.