Evaluation of the Awareness of Medical Students on Palliative Care

Abstract

Objective:The aim of this study was to determine the awareness of medical students on palliative care (PC) for terminal cancer patients.Methods:A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted in Gaziosmanpaşa University Medical Faculty. A face-to-face questionnaire form was presented to all students (n=363), and 210 students (57.9%) completed the form. Descriptive features of the students were compared with their knowledge of and attitude toward PC. Chi-square test was used for statistical analysis, and p0.05). 75.7% of the students emphasized on the need of PC education, and 44.8% wished to attend PC postgraduate training.Conclusion:More than half of the students had never heard of PC. Most students who had the knowledge about PC did not find it sufficient. The number of students who had an appropriate approach concerning CPR implementation to end-stage patients and euthanasia was low. Although three-quarters of the students considered attending PC education and nearly half of them considered working in the PC field, student awareness on PC was not at the desired level. Therefore, student needs to be indicated that the medical curriculum should contain PC subjects.

Keywords

• Palliative care
• awareness
• medical students