Medical student's experiences of communication with dying patients and their families

Effective communication with dying patients is an essential skill for doctors at all stage of their careers. However, many newly qualified doctors remain unprepared to communicate with dying patients and their families. This study aimed to explore medical students' experiences and challenges in communicating with dying patients and to identify strategies they perceive could improve their communication skills. The motivation for this research stemmed from the personal experience of the lead author: despite an interest in the topic, he had found that he lacked the necessary tools to handle these situations confidently. This study sought to explore whether other medical students share this feeling, and thus adding a novel contribution to the field.

Medical students from years three to five were invited to participate in semi-structured individual interviews. A total of eight interviews were conducted and used in the final analysis. Interview recordings were transcribed verbatim and reflexive thematic analysis was undertaken following the Braun and Clarke model.

Three key themes were constructed from the data: (1) the importance of communication with dying patients, (2) the challenges faced by students, including inadequate teaching, gaps in communication skills, clinical variability, emotional impact and complexity in communication, and (3) strategies for improving education, with students suggesting course improvements to better prepare them for future clinical practice.

Medical students feel unprepared to communicate with dying patients, citing limited exposure, emotional difficulties and insufficient teaching. This study highlights the need for: improved medical training that prioritises communication with dying patients, earlier and increased student exposure to these situations and further research to determine effective strategies to resolve this issue. By addressing these gaps, we can improve the care provided to dying patients and their families, ultimately fostering greater trust between families and healthcare providers.