End-of-life and palliative care issues in medical and nursing schools in the United States.
Medical and nursing schools in the United States have traditionally had a limited emphasis on end-of-life care. The present study is a comparison of these 2 professional programs' current offerings on death education. Data were gathered via a mailed survey from the 122 medical schools in 2005 and the 580 baccalaureate nursing programs in 2006. Return rates of 81% and 71%, respectively, were received. All medical schools and 99% of nursing schools reported offering something on death and dying, with over 90 % of students in these programs participating. The average number of hours offered in both professional programs is less than 15. Over 87% in both programs have offerings in palliative care. Whereas nursing programs rely almost solely on nurses for end-of-life course provisions, medical schools are more interdisciplinary by faculty. End-of-life issues are presented in both medical and nursing curricula, though on a limited basis. This emphasis exposes students to the issues, though not in an in-depth way.
Dickinson
George E
GE
Department of Sociology and Anthropology, College of Charleston, 66 George Street, Charleston, SC 29424, dickinson@cofc.edu
D016223:Advance Directives; D003479:Curriculum; D003643:Death; D004501:Education, Medical / Q000379:methods; D004506:Education, Nursing / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D010166:Palliative Care; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013727:Terminal Care; D014481:United States