Patients’ and closed ones’ experiences on competences required from physicians in palliative care and end-of life care

Authors

• Pia Mäenpää Oulun Ammattikorkeakoulu Oy
• Annamarja Lamminmäki Itä-Suomen Yliopisto ja KYS Syöpäkeskus
• Pirjo Kaakinen Oulun Yliopisto
• Minna Hökkä Kajaanin ammattikorkeakoulu

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.23990/sa.102483

Keywords:

physician, competence, palliative care, patient, closed ones

Abstract

Palliative care is active and holistic care for incurably ill patients and their closed ones. The need for palliative care will increase as the population ages and the amount of long-term illnesses increase. The purpose of the study was to describe the experiences of patients and their closed ones physicians’ competence in palliative care and end-of-life care.

The research data was collected as an electronic survey and a newsletter on the website of Developing palliative nursing and medical education-EduPal -project. An open question: What do you think every physician should know about palliative care and end-of-life care when graduating? responded to 41 patients and closed ones. The data was analyzed using inductive content analysis.

According to patients and their closed ones, the physicians need competence in pain management in palliative care and end-of-life care. In addition, they need interaction skills and competence in patient-centred care. Patients and closed ones appreciated the physicians need for strong clinical competence in palliative care and end-of-life care. The competence in empathetic meeting of the patient and the competence in supporting of patients and closed ones were also considered important.

The physician must have extensive competence in palliative care and end-of-life care. Considering patients’ and closed ones’ experiences in basic and continuing medical education strengthens and supports clinical competence and the quality of patient care. Medical education must be supplemented with a curriculum that develops interaction and communication skills, and all medical students must be provided with knowledge of the basics of palliative care and end-of-life care.