Palliative care: perception of teaching and evaluation of concepts among medical undergraduates

Abstract

Abstract This study evaluates the knowledge of fourth, fifth and sixth-year medical undergraduates about palliative care and their perceptions regarding teaching of this topic. Cross-sectional observational research was conducted with 135 undergraduates from a private medical school in Belo Horizonte by means of an online questionnaire. Of the participants, 40.7% considered themselves prepared to address patient death and the bereavement of family members, 80.7% rated their level of knowledge about palliative care as mediocre and 77% said they received insufficient information on the subject. When evaluating concepts, 20% of the participants had an unsatisfactory performance, 48% acceptable and 3% excellent. Students from more advanced years and who had completed an internship in elderly health had better responses. Despite regular student performance, the internship in elderly health positively impacts the acquisition of palliative care knowledge.