Sabrina Hui Xian Cheok MBBS, MRCSI, MMED , Benjamin Paik MBBS , Hann Natalie Soh MBBS , Yang Yann Foo PhD , Alethea C.P. Yee MBBS, MRCP, FAMS , Sui An Lie MBBS, MRCP, MMed (Internal Medicine)MMed (Anaesthesiology), FAMS , Gerald C.A. Tay MBBS, MMed(Surg), FRCS , Jin Yao Teo MBBS, MMed (Surg), FRCS , Yu Guang Tan MBBS, MRCSDWDMCIFAMS , Mingzhe Cai MBBS, MMed (Surg), FRCS , Chin Jin Seo MB, BCh, MMed (Surg), FRCS , Johnny Chin-Ann Ong MBBS, MMed (Surg), FRCS, PhD , Claramae S Chia MBBS, MMed (Surg), FRCS , Jolene Si Min Wong MBBS, MMed (Surg), FRCS, MPH
{"title":"Palliative Care Education Programs for Surgeons: A Review of Current Curriculum and Education Outcomes","authors":"Sabrina Hui Xian Cheok MBBS, MRCSI, MMED , Benjamin Paik MBBS , Hann Natalie Soh MBBS , Yang Yann Foo PhD , Alethea C.P. Yee MBBS, MRCP, FAMS , Sui An Lie MBBS, MRCP, MMed (Internal Medicine)MMed (Anaesthesiology), FAMS , Gerald C.A. Tay MBBS, MMed(Surg), FRCS , Jin Yao Teo MBBS, MMed (Surg), FRCS , Yu Guang Tan MBBS, MRCSDWDMCIFAMS , Mingzhe Cai MBBS, MMed (Surg), FRCS , Chin Jin Seo MB, BCh, MMed (Surg), FRCS , Johnny Chin-Ann Ong MBBS, MMed (Surg), FRCS, PhD , Claramae S Chia MBBS, MMed (Surg), FRCS , Jolene Si Min Wong MBBS, MMed (Surg), FRCS, MPH","doi":"10.1016/j.jsurg.2025.103690","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Objective</h3><div>Up to 40% of surgeries performed at academic centers are palliative in nature. However, most surgeons report a lack of training and exposure to palliative care (PC). This is often attributed to the lack of standardized PC education programs during surgical training. In this study, we summarize current PC education programs for surgeons and evaluate their efficacy in improving PC-related educational outcomes.</div></div><div><h3>Design and Setting</h3><div>Three electronic databases (PubMed, Embase and Cochrane) were systematically searched for studies between 1st January 2005 and 28th February 2023. We included studies on PC education programs for surgical residents or fellows. Learning objectives, content coverage, and mode of delivery of each program was recorded. Efficacy of the programs in improving PC related educational outcomes was measured and included PC knowledge, communication skills , and changes in attitudes and beliefs.</div></div><div><h3>Participants</h3><div>We included 10 studies in which 577 surgeons underwent PC education programs.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Eight studies focused on communication skills, including breaking bad news, code status clarification and prognoses discussions. Five studies focused on PC knowledge, including management of end-of-life symptoms, hospice care, and outcomes of cardiopulmonary resuscitation. PC program duration and modes of delivery varied from didactic lectures, case-based discussions, role-play, to specialist PC work attachments. Post-program, all studies reported an increase in PC knowledge scores. 87% of studies reported improvements in communication skills and a change in attitude favoring PC.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>PC education programs for surgeons vary widely in educational objectives, content, mode of delivery and efficacy measures. Our findings highlight the imperative to develop a standardized surgical PC curriculum to facilitate PC training among surgeons.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":50033,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Surgical Education","volume":"82 11","pages":"Article 103690"},"PeriodicalIF":2.1000,"publicationDate":"2025-09-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Journal of Surgical Education","FirstCategoryId":"3","ListUrlMain":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1931720425002715","RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q1","JCRName":"EDUCATION, SCIENTIFIC DISCIPLINES","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Objective
Up to 40% of surgeries performed at academic centers are palliative in nature. However, most surgeons report a lack of training and exposure to palliative care (PC). This is often attributed to the lack of standardized PC education programs during surgical training. In this study, we summarize current PC education programs for surgeons and evaluate their efficacy in improving PC-related educational outcomes.
Design and Setting
Three electronic databases (PubMed, Embase and Cochrane) were systematically searched for studies between 1st January 2005 and 28th February 2023. We included studies on PC education programs for surgical residents or fellows. Learning objectives, content coverage, and mode of delivery of each program was recorded. Efficacy of the programs in improving PC related educational outcomes was measured and included PC knowledge, communication skills , and changes in attitudes and beliefs.
Participants
We included 10 studies in which 577 surgeons underwent PC education programs.
Results
Eight studies focused on communication skills, including breaking bad news, code status clarification and prognoses discussions. Five studies focused on PC knowledge, including management of end-of-life symptoms, hospice care, and outcomes of cardiopulmonary resuscitation. PC program duration and modes of delivery varied from didactic lectures, case-based discussions, role-play, to specialist PC work attachments. Post-program, all studies reported an increase in PC knowledge scores. 87% of studies reported improvements in communication skills and a change in attitude favoring PC.
Conclusion
PC education programs for surgeons vary widely in educational objectives, content, mode of delivery and efficacy measures. Our findings highlight the imperative to develop a standardized surgical PC curriculum to facilitate PC training among surgeons.
期刊介绍:
The Journal of Surgical Education (JSE) is dedicated to advancing the field of surgical education through original research. The journal publishes research articles in all surgical disciplines on topics relative to the education of surgical students, residents, and fellows, as well as practicing surgeons. Our readers look to JSE for timely, innovative research findings from the international surgical education community. As the official journal of the Association of Program Directors in Surgery (APDS), JSE publishes the proceedings of the annual APDS meeting held during Surgery Education Week.