An undergraduate course on palliative medicine and end-of-life issues

The concept and development of this course were the joint efforts of the directors of the Susquehanna University Office of the Chaplain and the Geisinger Health System Palliative and Supportive Medicine Program (PMP). Both individuals perceived a need for increased awareness of students for issues related to advancing age and terminal illness.

Our objectives in formulating and presenting this course were to demystify aging, illness and death; increase awareness and tolerance for cultural and religious differences; enhance empathy and teach compassion; provide communication skills that could be used in many difficult situations; and provide a caring and mutually beneficial relationship for the elderly and students in our community.

The one semester course consisted of 28 one-hour forty-five minute classes and a separate service-learning project. One half of the lectures, presented by the Susquehanna University chaplain (M.R.), predominantly involved religious and spiritual issues. The other 14 were organized by the PMP and were presented primarily by health care professionals. A required service-learning project was the creation of a "personal legacy."

The PMP group comprised 7 physicians, 3 nurses, 1 chaplain, and 2 individuals participating in volunteer community activities for the elderly and infirm. All volunteered their time for this endeavor. Each had autonomy concerning his class content and format. Eighteen students (2 seniors, 6 juniors, 7 sophomores and 3 freshmen) registered for and completed the course.

In the final week, students were asked to evaluate the course with predominantly open-ended questions. They were informed that they would not be graded on their responses, and complete candor was encouraged. A less detailed evaluation of the overall experience by the course instructors was also solicited. These various comments are reviewed and discussed.

Overall, student and faculty comments about the course were quite positive. Every student believed that it was a very worthwhile course, but 4 of 18 would not sign up for it again and would not recommend it to a friend. We used the comments from the student and faculty participants to change the curriculum and presentation style for future courses.