Navigating the Hidden Curriculum: Reflections from Graduates of a Multidisciplinary Postgraduate Diploma in Pediatric Palliative Care.

ABSTRACT

Discovering some of the impact of the hidden curriculum (HC) while doing a postgraduate diploma in pediatric palliative care (PPC) in South Africa (SA), six graduates reflected on their formal and informal learning. To navigate the HC the transformative learning theory is used as a bridge connecting the formal and informal learning between interprofessional education where diversity is an enabler to enhance learning outcomes and shift perspectives to enhance patient care. The graduates were guided through the stages of the competency model to reflect on their learning experience. The authors believe that the experiential lessons reflected on, both clinical and psychosocial, can assist with not only strengthening the particular multidisciplinary needs of students, but also to align the HC and formal curricula. These lessons can also aid toward upscaling the need for PPC education in the SA context.