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American Journal of Hospice and Palliative Medicine®
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Using a Pilot Curriculum in Geriatric Palliative Care to Improve Communication Skills Among Medical Students

Sandra E. Sanchez-Reilly, MD

Division of Geriatrics and Gerontology, Department of Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas, sanchezreill{at}uthscsa.edu

Elaine M. Wittenberg-Lyles, PhD

Department of Communication at the University of Texas at San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas

Melinda M. Villagran, PhD

Department of Communication at the University of Texas at San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas

The purpose of this study was to assess the impact of an elective geriatric palliative care course on medical students' attitudes, knowledge, and behaviors regarding communication with terminally ill patients. Surveys were administered at the beginning and end of the elective. Despite a significant increase in knowledge about geriatric and palliative medicine (F = 24.80; P < .001), there were no significant changes in students' self-reported behaviors when applying curriculum-based communication strategies. However, the qualitative analysis of open-ended questions showed that the curriculum intervention did result in an improvement in empowering message strategies for breaking bad news. The evaluation of the end-of-life curriculum needs to exceed the measurement of attitudes and knowledge and include behavioral assessment of end-of-life communication skills.

Key Words: communication skills • end-of-life education • medical training

American Journal of Hospice and Palliative Medicine®, Vol. 24, No. 2, 131-136 (2007)
DOI: 10.1177/1049909106297071
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