Multiprofessional palliative care education: past challenges, future issues

Historically, health and social care professionals have described their lack of competence and confidence in many aspects of palliative care, and have recognized the need for increased educational opportunities, where new skills can be acquired and existing knowledge consolidated. Redressing these omissions has led to the development and growth of educational programs. Many of these courses have been unidisciplinary, with concomitant limitations. The adoption of a generalist approach to education has been suggested, to facilitate greater collaboration among professions and to ensure better use of resources. Course participants have greeted multiprofessional programs with enthusiasm. However, evidence of their effectiveness and impact on the delivery of palliative care to patients and their carers, although positive, remains scant. As the phenomenon of demographic aging continues, the growth of multiprofessional educational opportunities will amplify the need to scrutinize their content more closely.