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An introductory hospice experience for third-year medical students
Summary
A new hospice and palliative care curriculum for medical students significantly improved attitudes toward end-of-life care. This brief, transportable program addresses a critical knowledge gap in physician training.
Area of Science:
- Medical Education
- Hospice and Palliative Care
Background:
- Most US medical schools lack structured hospice and palliative care curricula.
- This deficit hinders physicians' ability to care for terminally ill patients and their families.
Purpose of the Study:
- To present a novel, integrated didactic and clinical rotation in hospice and palliative care for third-year medical students.
- To address the identified educational gap in end-of-life care.
Main Methods:
- A five-day combined didactic and clinical rotation was developed.
- The program was implemented through a home-based hospice in collaboration with a state medical school.
Main Results:
- The pilot program was well-received by students, who found it a valuable learning experience.
- The brief rotation successfully shifted some students' attitudes regarding death and dying.
Conclusions:
- This one-week hospice education program is an effective method for intensive training.
- The curriculum is designed to be easily adaptable to other healthcare education programs.