The teaching of Pediatric Palliative Care in medical residencies

Abstract

Objective: The aim of this study was to understand the perceptions of newly graduated pediatricians in medical residency programs regarding palliative care education, seeking potential gaps in training and comprehending whether professionals feel equipped to manage these patients. Method: This is an exploratory and descriptive study with a qualitative approach. Semistructured interviews were conducted in a virtual environment with 15 pediatricians who graduated from three pediatric medical residency programs in a capital city. The information was processed according to the content analysis method proposed by Bardin with the support of ATLAS.ti software. Results: Respondents reported a lack of theoretical and practical preparation regarding palliative care education and did not feel qualified to manage these patients. They also highlight the importance of the palliative care physician, not only for the appropriate treatment of patients but also as a facilitator of teaching during medical residency. Participants noted the need for greater knowledge about the bioethical and legal aspects of pediatric palliative care and for adequate time to address the subject with the patient and their families. Conclusions: Despite the relevance of this topic, there are still gaps in the teaching-learning process of pediatric palliative care, from undergraduate to postgraduate education. It is necessary to invest in more research to develop a suitable curriculum that favors education through specific and mandatory spaces for palliative care within residency programs.