Purpose: To perform a needs assessment for the development of a
multidisciplinary palliative care curriculum for OBGYN residents.
Background: Palliative care improves patient quality of life,
satisfaction, and survival. Although specialty palliative care services are
increasing in number, any healthcare provider can and should utilize principles
of primary palliative care in order to optimize patient care. OBGYN residents
receive little formal education in palliative care skills, such as
leading difficult conversations, symptom management, and end-of-life decision
making. These skills are critical to OBGYN training and are incorporated into
the ACGME milestones.
Methods: OBGYN residents at a single institution were
given an electronic survey assessing competency in palliative care skills
and preferred modes of learning. The survey
was first piloted with OBGYN fellows.
Results: Of 41 surveyed residents, zero describe themselves as
“competent” in reviewing advanced directives or counseling about comfort care.
Only 7% describe themselves as competent in delivering serious news and 5% as
competent in determining decision-making capacity. When asked specific
questions about opioid dosing conversions, less than 20% answered correctly.
The preferred teaching methods were clinical experiences, informal chalk talks,
and lecture-based didactics. When asked explicitly, 92% agreed or strongly
agreed that all OBGYN residents should undergo training in palliative care.
Discussions: OBGYNs care for women throughout their lifespan with
challenging patient care situations requiring skills in communication, symptom
management, and values determination. Our needs assessment highlights
significant areas for improvement in the training of OBGYNs. We used this data
to design and implement a multidisciplinary palliative care curriculum for
OBGYN residents.
Topics: CREOG & APGO Annual Meeting, 2019, Resident, Faculty, Residency Director, Patient Care, Medical Knowledge, Interpersonal & Communication Skills, GME,