Lessons From the Development and Implementation of a Palliative Care Elective for Fourth-Year Medical Students: A...

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Palliative Care
• Clinical Skills Training

Background:

• Palliative care education in medical schools is inconsistent and often lacks outpatient experience.
• There is a need for structured palliative care training for medical students.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and implement a palliative care clinical elective for fourth-year medical students.
• To incorporate both inpatient and outpatient learning experiences.

Main Methods:

• A 3-week palliative care elective was implemented for 14 fourth-year medical students.
• The curriculum included inpatient consults, outpatient clinics, and home hospice visits.
• Student competency and attitudes were assessed via pre- and post-elective surveys and focus groups.

Main Results:

• Significant improvements were observed in pain/symptom management, communication, and advance care planning.
• Attitudes toward caring for dying patients improved, with reduced emotional distress noted.
• Direct observation and feedback during inpatient rotations were identified as the most valuable learning components.

Conclusions:

• Direct observation and feedback are crucial for effective palliative care education.
• Future efforts should focus on enhancing the quality and timeliness of feedback from interdisciplinary teams.