Palliative Care in Undergraduate Medical Education-How Far Have We Come?

PURPOSE: There is an increasing demand for quality palliative care teaching within undergraduate medical education. Studies suggest that many junior doctors feel underprepared to perform end-of-life care. Previous systematic reviews on palliative care teaching within medical schools have identified significant variability and lack of consistency in teaching. This review aims to update the literature on the current status of palliative care teaching to undergraduates within medical schools. METHOD: A systematic review was undertaken on articles published from December 2001 to November 2015 on palliative care teaching for undergraduate medical students. In all, 650 abstract citations were obtained, of which 126 were relevant to the research questions. Thematic analysis was performed on remaining articles according to whether they discussed content and/or methodology of palliative care education, and data collated. RESULTS: There is greater consistency in the content being delivered as part of end-of-life care education within medical schools. The most frequently taught topics include attitudes to death and dying, communication skills, and pain management. Pediatric care and religious/cultural issues are less frequently addressed. Teaching institutions are also utilising a broader range of teaching modalities. CONCLUSION: There is significant progress in palliative care education within medical schools. Ongoing challenges relate to correlating our current practice in medical education to professional recommendations and the expressed needs of junior doctors to practice competent end-of-life care.

Should routine assessment of anastomotic integrity be undertaken using radiological contrast swallow after oesophagectomy with intra-thoracic anastomosis? Best evidence topic (BET).

Thoracic anastomotic leak is associated with significant postoperative morbidity and mortality. Routine contrast oesophagograms are consequently employed by a number of centres to routinely screen for this complication yet there exists little consensus as to if and when this assessment should occur. We have demonstrated within this BestBET analysis of five level IV case series that routine contrast oesophagograms lack adequate sensitivity or positive predictive value to be effective as screening tools, with leaks often arising clinically prior to scheduled routine assessment. We additionally demonstrate the significant risk of aspiration associated with contrast swallow use. The use of contrast swallow studies as diagnostic tools in patients for whom a leak is considered likely on the basis of clinical examination is nevertheless supported by relatively greater negative predictive values and specificity reported within the literature. There is additional evidence to support the use of CT imaging with oral contrast and endoscopic assessment of the anastomosis as valuable tools to assess for anastomotic integrity.

Should routine radiological assessment of anastomotic integrity be performed after oesophagectomy with cervical anastomosis? Best evidence topic (BET).

Rates of anastomotic leak in patients who undergo oesophagectomy with cervical anastomosis formation are reported within the literature to surpass those of patients undergoing thoracic anastomosis formation. Though preferred by a number of surgeons, cervical anastomosis is associated with higher rates of anastomotic leak, the consequences of which can be severe. Routine contrast oesophagograms are therefore utilised in a number of institutions as a means of recognising leaks early. They are not without potential complications, however, and the predictive value of contrast imaging has previously been debated. This best evidence topic reviews the use of contrast oesophagograms in screening for cervical anastamotic leak, concluding that their inherent risk of aspiration combined with poor sensitivity should preclude their use as a screening tool. High rates of specificity nevertheless indicate the potential utility of these studies in patients for whom there is clinical suspicion of a leak.