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Needs-Driven Simulation Education: Advancing Neuropalliative Communication for Neurology Residents
Katherine E Makaroff1, Alice Hawkins2, Nathan Chu1
1Department of Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
The American Journal of Hospice & Palliative Care
|April 8, 2026
Summary
Neurology residents often lack palliative care training. A new simulation-based curriculum significantly improved their confidence in managing complex neurological patient needs.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Palliative Care
- Medical Education
Background:
- Neurology residents frequently encounter patients with substantial palliative care needs, including symptom burden and prognostic uncertainty.
- Current palliative care training within neurology residencies is often insufficient to address these complex patient requirements.
- Neurologists require enhanced skills to effectively manage patients with neurological illnesses and their associated palliative care challenges.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and implement an expanded neuropalliative curriculum for neurology residents.
- To improve the delivery of palliative care to patients with neurological conditions.
- To enhance neurology trainees' skills in addressing complex palliative needs.
Main Methods:
- An educational needs assessment surveyed neurology residents' perceptions and confidence in palliative care topics.
- A neuropalliative curriculum, including lectures and communication skills simulation, was designed based on the needs assessment.
- Pre- and post-intervention surveys measured self-reported comfort levels using a five-point Likert scale, with statistical analysis to determine curriculum effectiveness.
Main Results:
- The needs assessment revealed a significant gap between the perceived importance and trainees' confidence in palliative care topics.
- Following curriculum implementation, neurology trainees reported an average improvement of 0.6 points in comfort across six palliative care domains.
- 58 trainees completed pre-intervention surveys and 41 completed post-intervention surveys, demonstrating engagement with the educational program.
Conclusions:
- Formal, simulation-based neuropalliative curriculum effectively enhances neurology trainees' self-reported comfort.
- The developed curriculum addresses critical gaps in palliative care education for neurologists.
- Simulation-based training is a valuable tool for improving primary palliative care delivery in neurology.
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