Improving Education on Palliative and End-of-Life Care in the ICU: A Survey of Residents (S722)

Abstract

•Identify gaps in residents' training regarding PEOLC in the ICU.•Formulate PEOLC curricula for residents during ICU rotations. Palliative and End-of-life Care (PEOLC) is an important part of resident training in Intensive Care Units (ICU). Improving PEOLC education for residents in the ICU should be prioritized. 1.Identify gaps in residents' training regarding PEOLC in the ICU.2.Formulate PEOLC curricula for residents during ICU rotations. A previously designed web-based survey tool was used to conduct a survey of all residents at one academic hospital center who have completed one or more ICU rotations. Responses were evaluated for strengths and deficiencies in educational programs. Of 305 surveys distributed, 147 (48.2%) were returned. Nine surveys were incomplete, thus the analytic sample was 139. Of 147 responses, there were 87 Internal Medicine, 10 Preliminary, 18 Anesthesia, 15 Neurology, and 17 General Surgery residents. Palliative care specialists had been encountered by 137 (98.6%) of respondents. The skills in greatest need of improvement include leading a family meeting, managing symptoms, and discussing organ donation and autopsy. Most residents felt comfortable with discussing prognosis, the process of withdrawal of life support, and notifying family after a patient’s death. Most residents felt they did not have adequate feedback on PEOLC during training but think that more PC education could be readily incorporated during ICU months. The vast majority of residents surveyed had encountered a palliative care specialist during resident training, speaking to the strong palliative care presence in this academic institute. A simple PEOLC resident curriculum during ICU months would benefit residents. A pre-post ICU rotation survey could be designed to assess knowledge ascertained during ICU months.