Palliative care education and its effectiveness: a systematic review

Palliative care education (PCE) is an important public health approach to palliative care and is crucial to improving its utilisation. The present study aims to develop a comprehensive understanding of PCE and its effectiveness.

A systematic review approach, including narrative synthesis, was used to review qualitative and quantitative studies published in the English language between January 1969 and January 2019, focussing on PCE programs.

Thirty-nine research studies were included in the systematic review. The target audience of the included studies were mostly healthcare professionals, followed by family caregivers. Definitions of death and palliative care, symptom management and communication were leading themes in the reviewed PCE programs. The educational resources used in PCE programs were mainly self-developed teaching materials, with some programs utilising eLearning resources. The included PCE programs were effective in improving knowledge, attitude and confidence in palliative care and the satisfaction of participant learning experience.

PCE is a useful tool to improve knowledge of, confidence in and attitudes towards palliative care amongst healthcare professionals and carers. To make palliative care a public health issue, PCE should be expanded to the public and policy-makers.