Teaching in Palliative Medicine

Table of Contents

1. Teaching and experience of an imminently dying patient
   1. Learning outcomes
   2. Case based discussion
2. Tips on Teaching End of Life Prescribing to Medical Students
   1. Scenario
   2. Discussion
   3. Summary

Scenario

1. Use a case scenario / actual patient they have seen to base discussion on
2. Ask students to -
   1. Name 5 common symptoms in last days of life (pain, nausea, bronchial secretions, dry mouth, urinary incontinence / retention, confusion / agitation)
   2. Look at patient drug chart - identify drugs which can be stopped, drugs which need to continue - discuss why
   3. Practice writing up -
      1. 4 key anticipatory drugs (oral and sc injection)
      2. Subcutaneous infusion - for any drugs which need to continue once patient unable to swallow. Show them how to look up conversion information in the BNF (prescribing in palliative care page 20-23) or ask them to use their I phone BNF app if they have one.

University of Leeds, School of Medicine

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