Knowledge and Attitudes of Medical Students in Palliative Medicine

Primary palliative care (PPC) is a specialized field that focuses mainly on the quality of life through symptom management, goal setting/advanced care planning, and psychosocial support in patients with serious illnesses. However, it is underutilized due to misconceptions about its scope and how to provide it. There remains great variability in the preparation of residents and providers in palliative medicine.

This study assessed medical students' level of knowledge and attitudes about PPC concepts.

A survey was adapted from previously validated questionnaires for physicians and nurses to assess knowledge in different domains of palliative medicine and evaluate student exposure, experiences, and attitudes surrounding palliative medicine. This study was conducted in the United States. The survey was administered to the University of Central Florida College of Medicine students in all years of training during the 2023-2024 academic year.

A total of 125 responses from 480 distributed surveys were collected (26% response rate, N = 125). Of these respondents, 39 respondents did not provide their year of training and, thus, received limited analysis, resulting in n = 86 (69%). All students showed the poorest performance in the domains Respiratory and Gastrointestinal Symptoms, and the best performance in Healthcare Disparities and Communication and Cultural Influence. Most respondents agree they would benefit from more PPC education and feel that doctors have a responsibility to help patients prepare for end-of-life care. Furthermore, most students feel unprepared to discuss end-of-life decisions.

Based on our results and review of the current literature, medical students need more education on the treatment of respiratory and gastrointestinal conditions in seriously ill patients and exposure to the practice of PPC during medical school. This will increase the likelihood of offering these resources to patients and feeling comfortable with these concepts as residents and attending physicians. Additionally, this study will contribute to the developing body of knowledge regarding medical student education in palliative medicine, as many studies have not been done on this topic.