Delivering Palliative Care Education where there is Little Concept of Palliative Care: The Cultural Challenges

Abstract

Special Edition 1 Article Ref. #: 1000PMHCOJSE1109 Volunteering to teach abroad in a country where palliative care is not well-established, either as a concept or service, is professionally stimulating and challenging. It provides an opportunity to learn about other social and healthcare cultures and challenges one’s own views and attitudes. Article History Sharing knowledge and skills with others, is a two way experience that enriches one’s practice Received: March 28th, 2017 and provides motivation for change. It is also an opportunity for reflection and re-focusing for Accepted: May 17th, 2017 the busy professional and to be recommended. In this paper we seek to describe some of the Published: May 22nd, 2017 challenges you may face and ways around them. We look at subjects such as the need to know and respect the culture we will travel to, explore ideas around truth-telling, concepts of honour Citation and shame and training in countries where there are limited resources and opioids. We shall Butler D, Gillett J, Leiper JM, Swain also comment on introducing new methods of teaching and making them relevant for different E. Delivering palliative care education subjects. This is drawn from over 20 years of experience by volunteer educators working under where there is little concept of pal- liative care: The cultural challenges. the auspices of PRIME (Partnerships in International Medical Education), a UK charity. Palliat Med Hosp Care Open J. 2017;