According to the Accreditation Standards for medical schools in North America the curriculum of a medical education program must include clinical experience in primary care (pc). Palliative and End-of-Life Care (peolc) is an essential component of pc and thus, it is the responsibility of medical schools and accreditation bodies to ensure adequate coverage. In Canada, primary care is represented by the specialty of Family Medicine (fm); therefore, understanding what learning experiences students have prior to fm residency is important for curriculum planning.
ObjectiveTo highlight the findings in regards to peolc of a pilot survey completed by incoming fm residents about their experiences in medical school, and their future intentions to practice.
DesignData were collected from residents in five fm programs across Canada who volunteered to participate in the pilot study in 2012 (n=317; response rate=69.8%); and seven programs in 2013 (n=449; response rate=88.9%). The survey consisted of multiple choice and Likert scale items. Data collection took place immediately upon entry to the fm residency program.
Results51% of residents in the 2012 cohort and 54.2% in the 2013 cohort reported no to minimal exposure to peolc, while only 2.8% in the 2012 cohort and 2.7% in the 2013 cohort reported a great deal of exposure. Regarding future practice intentions, 31.2% of residents in the 2012 cohort, and 23.6% in the 2013 cohort reported being either not at all likely or not likely to provide peol.
ConclusionsParticipants’ self-reported exposure to different fm domains reflects important deficiencies in the scope of comprehensive care covered in medical schools. A big gap in exposure and intentions to practice peolc compared to other areas was identified. This baseline data may help curriculum planners consider the redesign of the undergraduate and postgraduate curricula to help medical trainees achieve their expected peolc competencies.