title: Resident perceptions of palliative care training in the emergency department.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To characterize the level of formal training and perceived educational needs in palliative care of emergency medicine (EM) residents.
  
  
  METHODS
  This descriptive study used a 16-question survey administered at weekly resident didactic sessions in 2008 to EM residency programs in New York City. Survey items asked residents to: (1) respond to Likert-scaled statements about the role of palliative care in the emergency department (ED); (2) quantify their level of formal training and personal comfort in symptom management, discussion of bad news and prognosis, legal issues, and withdrawing/withholding therapy; and (3) express their interest in future palliative care training.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 228 total residents, 159 (70%) completed the survey. Of those surveyed, 50% completed some palliative care training before residency; 71.1% agreed or strongly agreed that palliative care was an important competence for an EM physician. However, only 24.3% reported having a "clear idea of the role of palliative care in EM." The highest self-reported level of formal training was in the area of advanced directives or legal issues at the end of life; the lowest levels were in areas of patient management at the end of life. The highest level of self-reported comfort was in giving bad news and the lowest was in withholding/withdrawing therapy. A slight majority of residents (54%) showed positive interest in receiving future training in palliative care.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  New York City EM residents reported palliative care as an important competency for emergency medicine physicians, yet also reported low levels of formal training in palliative care. The majority of residents surveyed favored additional training.
authors.affiliation: Brookdale Department of Geriatrics and Palliative Care, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, New York, USA.
authors.forename: Nicholas
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Meo
authors.forename: Ula
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Hwang
authors.forename: R Sean
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Morrison
mesh_terms: D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003625:Data Collection; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital; D006801:Humans; D007318:Inservice Training; D007396:Internship and Residency; D009519:New York City; D010166:Palliative Care