Education and Training: Perceived educational impact, ­challenges and opportunities of hospice placements for foundation year doctors: a qualitative study

Abstract

Foundation year one doctors (F1s) are expected to recognise and care for dying patients, but previous studies have found they can feel unprepared, stressed and unsupported when faced with such situations. Although hospice placements can provide good experiential learning for junior doctors, no studies to date have included F1s. This study used an interpretivist approach to explore educational opportunities and challenges in hospice placements from an F1's perspective. Six F1s who had recently completed hospice placements were interviewed individually. Data analysed qualitatively showed that F1s valued informal experiential learning and felt well supported by senior doctors. The most important learning outcome was the acquisition of enhanced communication skills and challenges included the risk of becoming medically deskilled. F1s felt their medical practice had changed as a result of hospice placement, most commonly in communication skills and recognition of the dying phase. The author recommends increased utilisation of hospice placements in foundation training programmes.