The Current role of Medical Simulation in Palliative Care

Excerpt

The World Health Organization recognizes palliative care as a method of improving quality of life by preventing and treating pain and other physical, psychosocial, and spiritual issues. In 2006, the American Board of Medical Specialties approved the creation of a Hospice and Palliative Medicine (HPM) subspecialty. As technology has improved over the last 20 years, it has played a vital role in medical education, especially in simulation. Simulation-Based Medical Education (SBME) has been shown to improve clinical competence, patient safety, and is cost-effective if used appropriately. Many educational principles must be considered when developing an effective SBME curriculum, including curriculum integration, feedback, deliberate practice, and mastery learning. Simulation has also been used in palliative care education, especially early on in medical trainees’ careers. Ann Faulker was a medical educator in the UK who was one of the first to advocate for simulation in palliative care in 1994. Palliative care simulation is different than procedural based simulation, and this must be taken into consideration when developing a successful simulation technique. There should be more emphasis on communication tools, interpersonal skills, self-reflection, and end of life care.