TY - JOUR
T1 - Using a pilot curriculum in geriatric palliative care to improve communication skills among medical students
AU - Sanchez-Reilly, Sandra E.
AU - Wittenberg-Lyles, Elaine M.
AU - Villagran, Melinda M.
PY - 2007/4/1
Y1 - 2007/4/1
N2 - The purpose of this study was to assess the impact of an elective geriatric palliative care course on medical students' attitudes, knowledge, and behaviors regarding communication with terminally ill patients. Surveys were administered at the beginning and end of the elective. Despite a significant increase in knowledge about geriatric and palliative medicine (F = 24.80; P .001), there were no significant changes in students' self-reported behaviors when applying curriculum-based communication strategies. However, the qualitative analysis of open-ended questions showed that the curriculum intervention did result in an improvement in empowering message strategies for breaking bad news. The evaluation of the end-of-life curriculum needs to exceed the measurement of attitudes and knowledge and include behavioral assessment of end-of-life communication skills.
AB - The purpose of this study was to assess the impact of an elective geriatric palliative care course on medical students' attitudes, knowledge, and behaviors regarding communication with terminally ill patients. Surveys were administered at the beginning and end of the elective. Despite a significant increase in knowledge about geriatric and palliative medicine (F = 24.80; P .001), there were no significant changes in students' self-reported behaviors when applying curriculum-based communication strategies. However, the qualitative analysis of open-ended questions showed that the curriculum intervention did result in an improvement in empowering message strategies for breaking bad news. The evaluation of the end-of-life curriculum needs to exceed the measurement of attitudes and knowledge and include behavioral assessment of end-of-life communication skills.
KW - Communication skills
KW - End-of-life education
KW - Medical training
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U2 - 10.1177/1049909106297071
DO - 10.1177/1049909106297071
M3 - Article
C2 - 17502438
AN - SCOPUS:34248592916
SN - 1049-9091
VL - 24
SP - 131
EP - 136
JO - American Journal of Hospice and Palliative Medicine
JF - American Journal of Hospice and Palliative Medicine
IS - 2
ER -