Evidence-based Practice and Organization of Palliative Care

The course will give theoretical and practical in-depth knowledge about palliative care. Diagnostics, treatment and follow-up of patients with advanced disease will be in focus.
Tumor directed treatment, prognostication and communication related to information about having a diagnosis with poor prognosis and choice of treatment are topics that will be covered. The course will give detailed knowledge about end-of-life-care; symptom management, collaboration, home death, psychological and spiritual aspects of care.
Special groups of patient such as children or elderly will be further elaborated on. The course will provide an overview of national guidelines and requirements within palliative care and will also focus on optimal communication and patient flow across levels in the health care system and across professions.
The course will give insight into principles for literature searches and how to read a scientific publication. Common methodology applied in palliative care research as well as challenges and opportunities related to research in patients with advanced disease will be covered.

The aim of this course is for students, based on a clinical, critical and analytical approach, to attain detailed knowledge about evidence-based practice and organisation of palliative care.

After completing this course, the student should:
• have detailed knowledge of treatment and follow-up of various patient groups with advanced disease
• know about principles for evidence-based practice and current palliative care research
• describe interaction between primary and specialized health services
• know how to read scientific literature
• know about challenges for recruitment in scientific trials
• describe communication with seriously ill and dying patients and their next of kin
• know about the challenges for next of kin and resources in disease trajectory
• describe ethical issues concerning end-of-life-care

Lectures and group exercises. Group work and individual work with exercises between the lectures are important parts of the course.
The lectures will take place the weeks the master program of Clinical Health Science has intensive education.