Training our future physicians: a hospice rotation for medical students

A required 16 hour hospice clinical rotation was developed as part of a medical student family practice clerkship. The effect of the hospice rotation on student beliefs and attitudes towards the care of dying patients was measured by pre- and post-test questionnaires using a Likert scale. Sixty-five completed pre- and post-tests were analyzed using a paired t-test. It was determined that there were statistically significant changes in responses to 15 of 23 items. The rotation positively affected student attitudes about hospice care, student attitudes about a hospice rotation, and beliefs concerning palliative care. The authors believe that qualified hospice programs can, and should, serve an active role in teaching medical students about the physical and psychosocial aspects of caring for the dying.