Medical students talking to hospice patients

Background: All newly qualified doctors will look after patients in the last stages of life.

Context: This article is a review of the literature regarding medical students learning from hospice patients, focusing on practical concerns of relevance to those involved in organising or conducting medical student teaching.

Innovation: Medical students have increasing opportunities to learn about palliative care from talking to patients in a hospice. This resource is not fully utilised, in part because of concerns about patient and student welfare. These concerns are not supported by current research findings, including a qualitative interview study of patients and staff.

Implications: We would encourage course coordinators to use opportunities for medical students to talk to hospice patients in order to enhance the education of medical students.