Revista de Tratamento e Medicina da Dor

Abstrato

The Need to Integrate Palliative Care in Undergraduate Medical Training: A Reflection in Developing Countries

Emillie John, Carnel John, William Kerti, Feruie Thomson

Palliative Care (PC) needs have been increasing in low- and middle-income countries. The prevalence of infectious diseases such as human immunodeficiency virus-acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV-AIDS) and the emergence of cancer disease raises challenges in the structuring of education and training policies in the approach of content in PC, thus avoiding the suffering and therapeutic futility of patients and families. Any future practice by health professionals is based on their knowledge during undergraduate training and continuous training throughout their career. The provision of health care, particularly palliative ones, involves, among other aspects, the diagnosis, the disclosure of bad news, the therapeutic approach and discussion and its limitation and/or when limiting it, and the involvement of the patient and family in taking care of decision, the multi, and interprofessional relationships, communication with patients, caregivers, and / or family members, the provision of end-of-life (EoL) care and facing death as a natural process of life must be integrated into the implementation of medical education and other health professionals. The lack of this training leads to fears, uncertainties, doubts and even suffering for these professionals and, consequently, for patients and families.