Palliative care curriculum for speech-language pathology students

Area of Science:

• Health Sciences
• Medical Education
• Interdisciplinary Studies

Background:

• The Palliative Care Curriculum for Undergraduates (PCC4U) Project aimed to integrate palliative care education into allied health professional training.
• This initiative was funded by a government health department to enhance palliative care programs.
• The project sought to foster interdisciplinary collaboration in curriculum development.

Purpose of the Study:

• To report on the experiences of undergraduate speech-language pathology students participating in the PCC4U Project.
• To evaluate the impact of an interdisciplinary palliative care curriculum on student learning.
• To explore opportunities for interdisciplinary teaching and learning in palliative care.

Main Methods:

• Implementation of the PCC4U curriculum at a university site.
• Inclusion of speech-language pathology and social work disciplines in a pilot program.
• Data collection on student experiences and perceptions of the curriculum.

Main Results:

• Speech-language pathology students reported the PCC4U project as a valuable addition to their education.
• The curriculum enhanced students' preparation for clinical practice in palliative care.
• The interdisciplinary approach facilitated novel curriculum development and collaboration.

Conclusions:

• Integrating palliative care education is crucial for allied health professionals.
• Interdisciplinary collaboration enriches curriculum development and student learning experiences.
• The PCC4U project successfully prepared speech-language pathology students for palliative care practice.