Education in Palliative Care Building a Culture of Learning

Despite the fact that most palliative care educators are involved in teaching, there is little literature devoted to education specifically within palliative care. This book bridges that gap, giving a wide-ranging, global view of palliative care education. It offers theoretical and practical insights, along with specific suggestions for developing knowledge and skills for teaching. It also contains extensive accounts of important contextual matters which influence the range and quality of palliative care education, including: interprofessional learning; continuing professional development; evaluation; and educational leadership. The development of palliative care as a clinical speciality is increasingly conducted at an international level, and a special feature of this book is the inclusion of chapters reviewing palliative care education in each continent. This enables practitioners and teachers to share knowledge across diverse healthcare systems and cultures. There is also an acknowledgement of the multi-professional team involved in palliative care, as education and training are looked at from the perspectives of doctors, nurses, and allied health professionals. The book is split into three distinct parts: Part 1 - sets the scene for existing palliative care education, both in the UK and internationally. Part 2 - focuses on the theory underpinning each aspect of teaching, learning and assessment, and then examines the practicalities of delivering these in the clinical setting. Part 3 - explores ways of building and nurturing a culture of learning in palliative care, whether as an individual or as an organization.

Dr Bee Wee is the Academic Director of the Oxford International Centre for Palliative Care, Head of the WHO Collaborating Centre for Palliative Care, and a Trustee of Marie Curie Cancer Care. She is Honorary Professor of Palliative Medicine at Sichuan University, China, and has an adjunct appointment as Associate Professor at the Edith Cowan University, Perth, Australia. Dr Wee chairs the Science Committee for the Association for Palliative Medicine of Great Britain and Ireland. In 2006, she was admitted as a member of the Royal College of Physicians of London in recognition of 'distinguished contributions in the field of medicine'. She has published on symptom control, specifically death rattle, and both medical and interprofessional education. Mr Nic Hughes' teaching over recent years has focused on continuing professional development for specialists in cancer and palliative care. He has a special interest in education for leadership. He has published in the fields of education and end-of-life care.