What it's really like: the complex role of medical students in end-of-life care.
BACKGROUND
Medical student end-of-life care training provides insight into the hidden curriculum and physician professional development.


METHODS
Second-year medical students at a university medical center listen to a panel discussion of 4th-year students and residents describing their end-of-life care experiences during clerkships. This discussion is intended to provide "anticipatory guidance" to 2nd-year students about challenging situations they might encounter on the wards. The purpose of this study was to analyze the content of the panel discussions by 4th-year students and residents to better understand their views of the end-of-life care curriculum.


RESULTS
We performed a qualitative content analysis of transcripts from 2 years of panel discussions. Participants' comments focused primarily on the complexity of the role of medical students in end-of-life care. Three major themes emerged in the sessions: defining professional identity, conflicting expectations, and limited medical experience.


CONCLUSIONS
The role of medical students in end-of-life care can be complex, confusing, and contradictory. Emotional support and elucidating the hidden curriculum may assist students with the process of physician enculturation and end-of-life care education.
Fernandes
Rheinila
R
Department of Psychiatry, Cambridge Hospital, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA.
Shore
William
W
Muller
Jessica H
JH
Rabow
Michael W
MW
D000328:Adult; D001293:Attitude to Death; D002140:California; D002982:Clinical Clerkship; D003479:Curriculum; D004504:Education, Medical, Undergraduate; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008404:Massachusetts; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D036301:Qualitative Research; D013337:Students, Medical / Q000523:psychology*; D013727:Terminal Care