Assessment and Comparison of Competencies, Attitudes and Knowledge of Palliative Care amongst Physicians, Advance Practice Providers, Residents, and Medical Students.

Abstract

Abstract Background Palliative Care prevents and relieves burdensome symptoms and suffering in patients who have life-limiting or chronic illness. This is accomplished through the early identification and treatment of pain and other physical, psychosocial, or spiritual stressors. The creation of a new Palliative Care program at a county teaching hospital in late 2021 and the subsequent rapid expansion of its services generated the need for targeted education programs for medical staff. The first step was to determine Palliative Care competencies, attitudes, and knowledge among the medical personnel at the institution. Methods The purpose of this study was to collect and compare baseline self-assessed competencies, attitudes and knowledge of Palliative Care and its applications amongst Physicians/Advance Practice Providers (APPs), Residents/Fellows, and medical students. The email survey was distributed to 322 attending physicians/APPs, 301 resident/fellow physicians, and 447 medical students. 144 total responses were received, with 129 responses being complete, providing a total response rate of 13.5%. Results Overall knowledge score of Palliative Care was significantly lower in medical students (7.27 out of a possible maximum score of 12) when compared to attending physicians/APPs (9.64, p < 0.001) and resident/fellow physicians (9.38, p < 0.001). The vast majority of respondents acknowledged that Palliative Care would greatly benefit their own patient population or future patient populations [attending physicians/APPs 74.4%, resident/fellow physicians 94.9%, medical students 80.4%] and that their department/colleagues could benefit from Palliative Care education [attending physicians/APPs 74.4%, resident/fellow physicians 94.9%, medical students 88.2%]. Conclusion Study findings suggest that medical students have less knowledge and confidence utilizing Palliative Care than practicing physicians/APPs. This suggests that providing Palliative Care Medical Education early in the medical school curriculums could ultimately improve patient care. Similarly, practicing physicians/APPs and trainees at all levels could benefit from further education in Palliative Care.