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Impact of a Palliative Care Certificate Program for PharmD Students Among Postgraduate Year 1 and 2 Alumni (S539)
Abstract   Open access   Peer reviewed

Impact of a Palliative Care Certificate Program for PharmD Students Among Postgraduate Year 1 and 2 Alumni (S539)

Sarah Greiner, Lorin Fisher, Theodore Nguyen, James Ray and Kashelle Lockman
Journal of pain and symptom management, Vol.63(5), pp.927-927
05/2022
DOI: 10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2022.02.162
url
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2022.02.162View
Published (Version of record) Open Access

Abstract

1. Describe palliative care certificate (PCC) graduates’ actual and intended engagement in palliative care in clinical practice, research, and teaching 2. List perceived benefits of a PCC program in graduates’ professional and personal lives In 2017, University of Iowa implemented a 17–credit hour Palliative Care Certificate (PCC) for PharmD students, with the first cohort graduating in 2019. This study aims to determine to what extent PCC graduates incorporate palliative care (PC) in their practice and evaluate perceived value of the PCC program. Research surveys for postgraduate years 1 and 2 were developed and pretested. The class of 2019 was surveyed during their second year after graduation, and the class of 2020 was surveyed during their first year after graduation. Ordinal and continuous data were summarized with descriptive statistics. Comments to open-ended survey questions were analyzed by inductive coding to conduct a thematic content analysis. Among 14 alumni in the classes of 2019 and 2020, 86% participated. Respondents incorporated PC in an average of 73% of their fourth-year clinical rotations and 89% of their postgraduate year 1 residency rotations. 41% intend to practice in the future as a hospice or PC specialist, with a goal to spend an average of 79% of their time providing PC. 50% plan to practice as a PC champion or generalist, planning to spend an average of 57% of their time providing PC. All respondents strongly agreed they would choose to complete the PCC again. 75% strongly agreed they apply PC in their professional and personal life. Major themes about the professional value that respondents attributed to the PCC include developing a holistic, humanistic perspective and skills to care for patients with complex needs. Major themes regarding respondents’ value of the PCC to their personal lives included emotional intelligence, self-care and resilience, and skills to navigate personal loss. A PCC is valued by pharmacy students and relevant across pharmacy specialties and practice settings. Including PC electives and certificates in curricula may prepare future healthcare professionals to integrate core PC principles in their practice.

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