End-of-Life Care Content in 50 Textbooks From Multiple Specialties

Open Access
Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Many patients in the United States currently receive suboptimal care at the end of life.1-3 Inadequate physician training likely contributes to both deficient care for dying patients and increased anxiety for caring physicians.4-11 Medical education typically provides little training in care of the dying.12-15 Most medical schools, residencies, and fellowships offer almost no formal training in palliative care, the information taught is not well integrated into the curricula, and the few courses available are generally elective.16 National medical licensing examinations have relatively few questions assessing students' end-of-life care competence.17 In general, students and physicians feel ill prepared to provide end-of-life care.18