Palliative care in medical education: the students’ perception

Abstract

Introduction: Population aging, longer life expectancy and the increase in the prevalence of chronic diseases have brought new health demands, among them, palliative care (PC). Although present in the clinical routine, this topic has not yet been included in most medical schools in Brazil. Objective: To know the teaching-learning process in PC according to the perception of medical students from schools that have this subject. Method: Qualitative method through interviews with 35 medical students from 14 medical schools located in the Northeast, Southeast and South regions of the country. Results: The reports were classified into three categories: conception of PC, changes perceived after exposure to PC teaching, challenges and successful strategies identified in PC teaching. Students recognize the value of teaching in PC and have a greater understanding of PC approach and its early indication for people with complex chronic conditions. The inclusion of the topic contributed to the overcoming of fears and taboos related to death, providing greater comfort to deal with human suffering, adding emotional skills. The formal education in PC allowed understanding the person in their biopsychosocial and spiritual dimension. They stressed the importance of communication skills to communicate difficult news, symptom management, teamwork and an individualized approach to the person and their family. Although they identify little theoretical-practical integration in the teaching-learning scenario in PC, they report an interest in the topic, and indicated successive experiences as strategies throughout the training, in a humanist axis. Conclusion: PC teaching brings contributions to medical training that go beyond the learning of the subject and reinforces the development of empathy and compassion, recognized as essential in this profession, as well as the relevance of assertiveness in the management of suffering and the comprehensive care of people with advanced diseases.