The humanities in palliative medicine training: perspectives of academic palliative medicine physicians and trainees

Abstract Background The humanities can aid in the development of important skills for trainee physicians. Because of the nature of their work, palliative medicine residents are expected to apply humanities-based skills frequently in their clinical work and are also likely to use humanities-based ski...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Rayan Delbani, Christopher J Barnes, Michel Shamy
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2024-11-01
Series:BMC Medical Education
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12909-024-06295-0
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1850163456241565696
author Rayan Delbani
Christopher J Barnes
Michel Shamy
author_facet Rayan Delbani
Christopher J Barnes
Michel Shamy
author_sort Rayan Delbani
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background The humanities can aid in the development of important skills for trainee physicians. Because of the nature of their work, palliative medicine residents are expected to apply humanities-based skills frequently in their clinical work and are also likely to use humanities-based skills to support their own self-care. Our project explored the role of the humanities in palliative medicine residency programs across Canada. Methods Each priority topic or objective of the current palliative medicine residency training standards in Canada was reviewed to determine whether they relate to the humanities. A cross-sectional survey was subsequently created using Qualtrics, with the target study population being current palliative medicine residents and palliative medicine staff physicians at academic centers in Canada. Results Multiple humanities objectives exist in Canadian palliative medicine training standards, primarily in the ethical, cultural, and spiritual domains. Eighty-seven people completed the cross-sectional survey, for a 17.4% response rate and 94.6% completion rate. The vast majority (90%) of survey participants felt that the humanities had an important role in medical training at the undergraduate and postgraduate levels, and more than 70% of participants felt that the humanities had an important role in palliative medicine residency training. In some areas, the humanities participants felt that their programs would most benefit from ethics, philosophy, and culture. Over 65% agreed or strongly agreed that their own palliative medicine program would benefit from more humanities content. Conclusion Canadian palliative medicine training standards require residents to demonstrate humanities-based skills. Most survey participants state that the humanities have an important role in medical training at the undergraduate and postgraduate levels, and that their own palliative medicine residency program would benefit from more humanities content. These results may guide future studies to better understand why and how more humanities content can be added to palliative medicine residency programs to optimize residents’ learning experiences and better prepare them for careers in palliative medicine.
format Article
id doaj-art-efe525d9b2ac4174870edce190041c46
institution OA Journals
issn 1472-6920
language English
publishDate 2024-11-01
publisher BMC
record_format Article
series BMC Medical Education
spelling doaj-art-efe525d9b2ac4174870edce190041c462025-08-20T02:22:16ZengBMCBMC Medical Education1472-69202024-11-012411610.1186/s12909-024-06295-0The humanities in palliative medicine training: perspectives of academic palliative medicine physicians and traineesRayan Delbani0Christopher J Barnes1Michel Shamy2Faculty of Medicine, Department of Medicine, Division of Palliative Care, University of Ottawa, The Ottawa Hospital- General CampusFaculty of Medicine, Department of Medicine, Division of Palliative Care, University of Ottawa, Saint-Vincent HospitalFaculty of Medicine, Department of Medicine, Division of Neurology, University of Ottawa, The Ottawa Hospital- Civic CampusAbstract Background The humanities can aid in the development of important skills for trainee physicians. Because of the nature of their work, palliative medicine residents are expected to apply humanities-based skills frequently in their clinical work and are also likely to use humanities-based skills to support their own self-care. Our project explored the role of the humanities in palliative medicine residency programs across Canada. Methods Each priority topic or objective of the current palliative medicine residency training standards in Canada was reviewed to determine whether they relate to the humanities. A cross-sectional survey was subsequently created using Qualtrics, with the target study population being current palliative medicine residents and palliative medicine staff physicians at academic centers in Canada. Results Multiple humanities objectives exist in Canadian palliative medicine training standards, primarily in the ethical, cultural, and spiritual domains. Eighty-seven people completed the cross-sectional survey, for a 17.4% response rate and 94.6% completion rate. The vast majority (90%) of survey participants felt that the humanities had an important role in medical training at the undergraduate and postgraduate levels, and more than 70% of participants felt that the humanities had an important role in palliative medicine residency training. In some areas, the humanities participants felt that their programs would most benefit from ethics, philosophy, and culture. Over 65% agreed or strongly agreed that their own palliative medicine program would benefit from more humanities content. Conclusion Canadian palliative medicine training standards require residents to demonstrate humanities-based skills. Most survey participants state that the humanities have an important role in medical training at the undergraduate and postgraduate levels, and that their own palliative medicine residency program would benefit from more humanities content. These results may guide future studies to better understand why and how more humanities content can be added to palliative medicine residency programs to optimize residents’ learning experiences and better prepare them for careers in palliative medicine.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12909-024-06295-0Medical educationThe humanitiesPalliative medicinePostgraduate training
spellingShingle Rayan Delbani
Christopher J Barnes
Michel Shamy
The humanities in palliative medicine training: perspectives of academic palliative medicine physicians and trainees
BMC Medical Education
Medical education
The humanities
Palliative medicine
Postgraduate training
title The humanities in palliative medicine training: perspectives of academic palliative medicine physicians and trainees
title_full The humanities in palliative medicine training: perspectives of academic palliative medicine physicians and trainees
title_fullStr The humanities in palliative medicine training: perspectives of academic palliative medicine physicians and trainees
title_full_unstemmed The humanities in palliative medicine training: perspectives of academic palliative medicine physicians and trainees
title_short The humanities in palliative medicine training: perspectives of academic palliative medicine physicians and trainees
title_sort humanities in palliative medicine training perspectives of academic palliative medicine physicians and trainees
topic Medical education
The humanities
Palliative medicine
Postgraduate training
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s12909-024-06295-0
work_keys_str_mv AT rayandelbani thehumanitiesinpalliativemedicinetrainingperspectivesofacademicpalliativemedicinephysiciansandtrainees
AT christopherjbarnes thehumanitiesinpalliativemedicinetrainingperspectivesofacademicpalliativemedicinephysiciansandtrainees
AT michelshamy thehumanitiesinpalliativemedicinetrainingperspectivesofacademicpalliativemedicinephysiciansandtrainees
AT rayandelbani humanitiesinpalliativemedicinetrainingperspectivesofacademicpalliativemedicinephysiciansandtrainees
AT christopherjbarnes humanitiesinpalliativemedicinetrainingperspectivesofacademicpalliativemedicinephysiciansandtrainees
AT michelshamy humanitiesinpalliativemedicinetrainingperspectivesofacademicpalliativemedicinephysiciansandtrainees