Changes in Perceptions and Attitudes of Medical Students toward End-of-Life Care after Hospice and Palliative Medicine Education
10.14475/kjhpc.2019.22.4.166
- Author:
Jeehyun CHA
1
;
Hoseob LIHM
;
Yoonyoung KIM
;
Jihun KANG
Author Information
1. Department of Family Medicine, Kosin University Gospel Hospital, Kosin University College of Medicine, Busan, Korea. josua85@naver.com
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
Hospice care;
Palliative medicine;
Perception;
Attitude;
Medical education
- MeSH:
Curriculum;
Education;
Education, Medical;
Hospice Care;
Hospices;
Humans;
Palliative Care;
Palliative Medicine;
Schools, Medical;
Students, Medical
- From:Korean Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care
2019;22(4):166-173
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
PURPOSE: High-quality hospice and palliative medicine curricula are necessary in Korean medical schools. This study evaluated changes in students' knowledge and attitudes toward both hospice and palliative care following the completion of a course on these topics, as well as the course's overall role in the basic medical education curriculum.METHODS: Questionnaires measuring knowledge and attitudes were collected before and after the course from 76 fourth-year medical students, who had received instructions integrating both hospice and palliative care in 2016.RESULTS: The questionnaire item “Select the correct answer on the use of opioid pain control in hospice and palliative care” changed the most in terms of number of correct answers pre- and post-course (3.50 and 5.32, respectively; P<0.001). Pre- and post-course, the numbers of students who answered “Strongly Agree” and “Agree” to questions concerning their attitudes toward hospice and palliative care (“I know the purposes and roles of hospice and palliative care”) were 17 (22.4%) and 65 (85.6%), respectively (P≤0.001). Affirmative responses also increased for “As a pre-physician, I know when to describe and advise hospice and palliative care to patients”, from 22 (28.9%) to 65 (85.6%; P≤0.001).CONCLUSION: This study showed that comprehensive hospice education in the form of an integrated educational course might promote changes in medical students' knowledge and attitudes toward hospice and palliative medicine.
