Palliative Care Education in Emergency Medicine Residency Training: A Survey of Program Directors, Associate Program Directors, and Assistant Program Directors.

Publication/Presentation Date

5-1-2016

Abstract

CONTEXT: Emergency medicine (EM) residents perceive palliative care (PC) skills as important and want training, yet there is a general lack of formal PC training in EM residency programs. A clearer definition of the PC educational needs of EM trainees is a research priority.

OBJECTIVES: To assess PC competency education in EM residency programs.

METHODS: This was a mixed-mode survey of residency program directors, associate program directors, and assistant program directors at accredited EM residency programs, evaluating four educational domains: 1) importance of specific competencies for senior EM residents, 2) senior resident skills in PC competencies, 3) effectiveness of educational methods, and 4) barriers to training.

RESULTS: Response rate was 50% from more than 100 residency programs. Most respondents (64%) identified PC competencies as important for residents to learn, and 59% reported that they teach7 PC skills in their residency program. In Domains 1 and 2, crucial conversations, management of pain, and management of the imminently dying had the highest scores for importance and residents' skill. In Domain 3, bedside teaching, mentoring from hospice and palliative medicine faculty, and case-based simulation were the most effective educational methods. In Domain 4, lack of PC expertise among faculty and lack of interest by faculty and residents were the greatest barriers. There were differences between competency importance and senior resident skill level for management of the dying child, withdrawal/withholding of nonbeneficial interventions, and ethical/legal issues.

CONCLUSION: There are specific barriers and opportunities for PC competency training and gaps in resident skill level. Specifically, there are discrepancies in competency importance and residency skill in the management of the dying child, nonbeneficial interventions, and ethical and legal issues that could be a focus for educational interventions in PC competency training in EM residencies.

Volume

51

Issue

5

First Page

898

Last Page

906

ISSN

1873-6513

Disciplines

Medical Sciences | Medicine and Health Sciences

PubMedID

26988848

Department(s)

Department of Emergency Medicine Faculty, Department of Emergency Medicine Residents, Department of Medicine, Department of Medicine Faculty, Section of Palliative Medicine and Hospice, Fellows and Residents

Document Type

Article

Funder

Pool Trust Research Grant and Development Grants

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