| Research Abstract |
The purpose of this research is to specify the necessary details of undergraduate medical education curricula, which will enable doctors to practice palliative medicine.
In order to determine the details of undergraduate medical education that will help in the practice of palliative care, we conducted a 'questionnaire survey of physicians and head nurses in authorized palliative care units. We sent questionnaires to head nurses of 112 facilities in 2003, and 89 head nurses replied (respondents : 80%). Then we sent questionnaires to physicians in charge of palliative care of 120 facilities in 2003, and 92 physicians answered (respondents : 77%).
The results are as follows :
As for the causes that prevent physicians from understanding palliative care, 37% of the nurses and 48% of the physicians mentioned the lack of palliative care knowledge.
As for the qualities of doctors that are required to practice palliative care, nurses referred to the following : modesty (37%), sincerity (27%), and warm-heartedness (21%). On the other hand, physicians laid emphasis on building mature character and mentioned the following as most important : consideration (52%), and modesty (19%).
Also they referred to the following: a spirit of cooperation (nurses : 46%, physicians : 36%), and improvement in communication skills (nurses : 32%, physicians : 53%).
Physicians suggested that holistic care be considered as most important for deciding on the outline of general lectures on palliative care. 94% of those physicians put stress on pain management in the medium category of pain relief. They recommended that, in the detailed category, medical students learn specific subjects such as total pain (40%), physical pain relief (33%), and medical treatment for pain relief (24%).
We, regard as effective methods of giving lectures on palliative care : (1) lectures in which various cases corresponding to the subject are presented to students ; and (2) lectures in which the role-playing method is adopted.
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