Pallium Canada's Curriculum Development Model: A Framework to Support Large-Scale Courseware Development and...

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Palliative Care
• Curriculum Development

Background:

• Improving access to palliative care is crucial across various settings and patient groups.
• Healthcare professionals require foundational palliative care competencies to implement a palliative care approach.
• Existing educational initiatives need scalable frameworks for broad dissemination.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe Pallium Canada's Curriculum Development Framework for large-scale palliative care education.
• To present a structured, phased approach for developing and disseminating palliative care courses.
• To offer a model for other organizations aiming to expand palliative care training.

Main Methods:

• The framework comprises eight distinct phases, including Concept, Decision, Curriculum Planning, Prototype Development, Piloting, Dissemination, Language and Cultural Adaptation, and Ongoing Maintenance.
• It incorporates iterative and cyclical activities within these phases.
• The framework supports simultaneous, staggered development of multiple courses, optimizing resource allocation and stakeholder involvement.

Main Results:

• The framework facilitated the concurrent development, launch, and maintenance of numerous Learning Essential Approaches to Palliative Care (LEAP) courses.
• It leveraged existing LEAP courses and materials for efficient new course production, maximizing output.
• The phased approach allows for staggered course development, akin to a production line.

Conclusions:

• The described framework offers a scalable and efficient model for developing and disseminating palliative care education.
• It is adaptable for use in various jurisdictions seeking to enhance palliative care competencies across diverse healthcare settings and specialties.
• The framework supports the widespread adoption of a palliative care approach through systematic educational program development.