“He Got His Last Wishes”—Next-of-Kin Ways of Knowing Patient's End of Life Preferences and Affirming Clinical Conformity (726)

Abstract

Result. Two broad thematic categories were identified: what the students learned and what the students experienced. Student writings revealed learning about palliative care (pain management, family meetings, goals of care, patientfamily centered care, timing of palliative care, and delivering bad news); being a doctor (knowledge, communication, presence, empathy, not giving false hope, and person-focused care); the patient (importance of family, the experience of dying, and the uniqueness of each patient); and themselves (need to be non-judgmental, ability to do palliative care, self-limitations, becoming a better physician, and dealing with death). Student reflections centered on encounters with patients and families, internal emotional responses, and self-transformation.