Nationwide survey on the need for psychiatric training in palliative care education: the psychiatrist standpoint

ABSTRACT

<b>Background</b> The need for palliative care is increasing, and psychological care for cancer patients has been recognized to have an important role in palliative care. <b>Purpose</b> To determine the medical knowledge and skills (especially in psychiatry) required in palliative care and to propose psychiatric training for palliative care education. <b>Subjects/Methods</b> Using a questionnaire, palliative care doctors (working less than 3years) and nurses were asked their opinions on the necessity of palliative care and requested to self-evaluate their knowledge and skills in palliative care. <b>Results</b> The survey revealed that many doctors and nurses felt the need for an "Interdisciplinary team approach" "Good communication with patient and family", an "Understanding of total pain" and "Listening". Palliative care doctors had low self-evaluations of their psychiatric knowledge and skills with regard to palliative care, but they recognized the necessity for greater knowledge and skills in this area. <b>Conclusions</b> In a palliative care setting, it is important to establish training programs for consultation-liaison psychiatry that provide opportunities for learning about psychiatric practices, including diagnostic evaluation, psychotherapeutic and pharmacologic treatment, as well as skills for communicating with cancer patients, families and staff. Palliat Care Res 2009 4(1) 101-111