Educational agendas for interdisciplinary end-of-life curricula

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Palliative Care
• Intensive Care Medicine

Background:

• Recognized need for interdisciplinary end-of-life curricula in intensive care units (ICUs).
• Current educational agendas are developing, but limited palliative care data hinders evidence-based recommendations.
• Exploration of an interdisciplinary team's role in evolving patient care is necessary.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the necessity of an interdisciplinary team approach for end-of-life care in the ICU.
• To define core competencies for end-of-life care within an interdisciplinary framework.
• To propose a phased model for managing curative and comfort care in the ICU.

Main Methods:

• Case-based approach to explore the interdisciplinary team's role.
• Enumeration of core competencies for end-of-life care.
• Proposal of a four-phase ICU management model for curative and comfort care.

Main Results:

• Defines an interdisciplinary team and its step-wise incorporation (physicians, nurses, social workers, chaplains).
• Identifies core competencies: approaches to care, ethical/legal aspects, symptom management, palliative crises, and communication skills.
• Proposes four phases of ICU management: transfer checklist, life-saving treatments, holistic patient care, and palliative care focus.

Conclusions:

• An interdisciplinary approach and defined competencies are vital for effective ICU end-of-life care.
• The proposed four-phase model offers a structured framework for integrating palliative care.
• Further development of evidence-based palliative care education is needed for ICUs.