Development, Implementation and Evaluation of A Pain Management and Palliative Care Educational Seminar for Medical Students

• Published in: Pain research & management 2014-09, Vol.19 (5), p.230-234
• Main Authors: Paneduro, Denise, Pink, Leah R, Smith, Andrew J, Chakraborty, Anita, Kirshen, Albert J, Backstein, David, Woods, Nicole N, Gordon, Allan S
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Original
• ISSN: 1203-6765; 1918-1523
• DOI: 10.1155/2014/240129

BACKGROUND: Despite calls for the development and evaluation of pain education programs during early medical student training, little research has been dedicated to this initiative. OBJECTIVES: To develop a pain management and palliative care seminar for medical students during their surgical clerkship and evaluate its impact on knowledge over time. METHODS: A multidisciplinary team of palliative care and pain experts worked collaboratively and developed the seminar over one year. Teaching methods included didactic and case‐based instruction, as well as small and large group discussions. A total of 292 medical students attended a seminar during their third‐ or fourth‐year surgical rotation. A 10‐item test on knowledge regarding pain and palliative care topics was administered before the seminar, immediately following the seminar and up to one year following the seminar. Ninety‐five percent (n=277) of students completed the post‐test and 31% (n=90) completed the follow‐up test. RESULTS: The mean pretest, post‐test and one‐year follow‐up test scores were 51%, 75% and 73%, respectively. Mean test scores at post‐test and follow‐up were significantly higher than pretest scores (all P