“Death Over Dessert” – A conversation with pharmacy students about what really matters in the end

Abstract

Background and purposePharmacists will encounter the death of patients and loved ones throughout their career. Though this is a part of our profession as health care providers, many pharmacy students express discomfort and even fear of discussing death and dying with their patients. “Death Over Dessert” has been developed as a loosely structured discussion held during a required geriatrics advanced pharmacy practice experience (APPE). Educational activity and setting“Death Over Dessert: uses principles of “Death Over Dinner,” a free online program, “Where I Stand” scales from The Conversation Project, and a series of written reflection questions for after the activity. The discussion is led by two faculty members and ranges from two to six APPE students per offering. A mixed-methods approach was used to assess participant responses to reflection questions. FindingsOf the 19 participants, all (n = 19, 100%) found the activity to be beneficial despite many mentioning the topic can be uncomfortable. There were five overall themes identified that broached personal and professional views: significance of end-of-life discussion with family, important aspects of personal wishes at end-of-life, the definition of living, approaches to end-of-life discussion, and the role of end-of-life in the pharmacy curriculum. Summary“Death Over Dessert” is a new teaching modality for faculty and preceptors to consider using in their classrooms or rotation activities.