Dying, death and doctors-in-training: survey.

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Palliative Care
• Spiritual Well-being

Background:

• Doctors-in-training (DITs) frequently encounter patient deaths in hospitals.
• Inadequate preparation and support for DITs managing death and dying can cause distress.
• This study is the first in Ireland to assess DITs' training and support in end-of-life care.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the training and support DITs receive at Cork University Hospital for managing death and dying.
• To explore the impact of these experiences on DITs' spiritual well-being.

Main Methods:

• A 27-question electronic survey was administered to 130 DITs.
• The survey collected data on training, confidence in end-of-life care (EoLC), support perceptions, and spiritual impacts.

Main Results:

• 67% of DITs reported insufficient training in managing death and dying.
• Nearly half lacked confidence in discussing EoLC with patients and families.
• 69% experienced inadequate support or debriefing post-patient death, with a moderate sense of spiritual well-being.

Conclusions:

• Improved training and support are crucial for DITs managing death and dying.
• Enhanced support can improve DITs' well-being and the quality of patient care.
• Future research will expand this survey to a national level across Irish hospitals.