Evaluation of diagnostic and treatment approaches towards acute dyspnea in a palliative care setting among medical students at the University of Vienna.
BACKGROUND
Dyspnea is common in advanced cancer patients with opioids as first line treatment.


OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the level of knowledge about diagnosis and treatment of dyspnea in palliative care patients among 4th year students.


METHODS
A case report was distributed to the students describing acute dyspnea in a lung cancer patient. Students were asked to rank their diagnosis and treatment options by importance.


RESULTS
633 medical students in their 4th year attended a seminar about palliative care. Of these, 423 (77%) completed the case report. The most frequent diagnostic option was measuring patient's oxygen saturation (n = 388), followed by auscultation (n = 339). As treatment options, students chose the delivery of oxygen (n = 393) as most important. The application of opioids was suggested by a total of 138 students.


CONCLUSIONS
Although students did not have practical skills in treating advanced cancer patients with acute dyspnea, 32.6% would suggest an opioid as treatment option.
Department of Internal Medicine, Hospital Krems, Krems, Austria. gudrunpohl@gmx.at
Gudrun
G
Pohl
Christine
C
Marosi
Karin
K
Dieckmann
Gregor
G
Goldner
Katarzyna
K
Elandt
Marco
M
Hassler
Michael
M
Schemper
Kathrin
K
Strasser-Weippl
Friedemann
F
Nauck
Jan
J
Gaertner
Herbert
H
Watzke
D000208:Acute Disease; D000465:Algorithms; D000701:Analgesics, Opioid / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001314:Auscultation; D002983:Clinical Competence; D004417:Dyspnea / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D004521:Educational Measurement; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000473:pathology / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D010100:Oxygen / Q000097:blood*; D010102:Oxygen Inhalation Therapy; D010166:Palliative Care / Q000379:methods* / Q000523:psychology; D013337:Students, Medical; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014495:Universities; D014768:Virginia
D000701:Analgesics, Opioid; D010100:Oxygen