Essentials of Palliative Care from Coursera

What's inside

Syllabus

Course Introduction and Overview

Welcome! Palliative Care Always is about optimizing quality of life at any stage of disease. This course, Essentials of Palliative Care, is rooted in the belief that incorporating the principles of palliative care into clinical practice can improve the quality of life for our patients and their support systems (including clinicians!). A team of Stanford faculty and staff designed this course to educate you about palliative care. Together, you will learn how it intersects with treating serious illness, and how palliative care skills can help improve quality of life for patients, families and providers. Our hope is that you will feel increasingly equipped to support the diverse needs of patients with serious illness.

Introduction to Palliative Care

This module focuses on what palliative care is, the roles of the care team and the difference between primary and speciality palliative care.

Communicating with Patients

Discussing difficult news is always a challenge for a variety of reasons.  In this module, we will cover methods you can use to make these conversations more successful.   Communication is the foundation of patient and clinician relationships and a key component of palliative care. Effective communication can build trust and promote clarity in the face of difficult decisions. Still, communication--especially about prognosis and transitions in care--is a challenging aspect of patient care in which clinicians cite a lack of confidence and skill. This module covers basic skills in communicating with patients, families, and peers. You will hear about practical ways to incorporate communication skills into your daily practice and your daily life. These skills will help you tune in to the needs and desires of patients and families and form a partnership that promotes well-being.

Psychosocial Distress

Most families living with cancer will experience some form of emotional, psychological or social distress. This may exist as episodes of grief or anxiety at specific points such as diagnosis or progression, or it may be a more chronic experience that has an ongoing impact on relationships and day-to-day life. Psychosocial distress itself affects quality of life while also exacerbating physical symptoms and influencing decisions regarding treatment. This module explores psychosocial distress and introduces you to skills for assessing and managing psychosocial distress. These skills will help you identify and begin to address the emotional and social needs of patients and families.

Goals of Care & Advanced Directives

Goals of cancer care are often associated with prolonging life or preparing for the end of life. However, goals of care conversations identify wishes and values that guide every medical decision and help patients and families live the best life possible at every phase of care. Goals of care discussions help patients and providers balance the evidence about disease and treatment with subjective needs and values. To this end, conversations about goals should be introduced early and revisited regularly to make sure healthcare decisions are in line with a patient's wishes. Throughout this module, we introduce goals of care conversations and communication skills as they relate to identifying goals and values.

Self-Care

Healthcare providers, in general, make a life of being attentive to and providing resources for people during times of illness and suffering. This type of work, while essential and rewarding, undoubtedly bears its cost in work-related stress, burnout and fatigue. The response to internal and external stress is a key influencer on wellbeing. During this module, we discuss how to identify burnout in yourself and provide tips to ease the challenges that healthcare providers face.

Final Steps

Congratulations on completing the course content. You have a few more step to complete the course. First review your reflection, next complete a peer-reviewed course project and then take the final exam. We hope you have enjoyed the course and look forward to seeing you in other classes!

Good to know

Know what's good

, what to watch for

, and possible dealbreakers

Appropriate for general and medical students

Taught by an institution and instructors recognized for their exceptional work in the field of primary palliative care

Core team member and patient communication skills can be implemented across work environments, promoting overall well-being

Provides the ability to identify early signs of burnout in healthcare providers

Emphasizes using communication to build trust and rapport with patients and families, although the approach is highly dependent on the individual

Reviews summary

Well-received palliative care course

According to students, this well-received course on palliative care offers comprehensive content, an engaging practical component, and excellent instructor support. Specifically mentioned in positive reviews are the quizzes and clear explanations which enhanced their skills for working with patients.

Supportive and knowledgeable instructors

"The teachers are amazing"

"all the teachers are brilliant"

Practical component with role play

"The role play of relevant situations added much to the learning."

In-depth content on Palliative Care

"There was a LOT of information provided in this course, but it was well conveyed."

"such helpful insight and practicable knowledge"

"Amazing course! It was able to learn and know a lot about palliative care."

Delays due to peer review

"My gosh! The peer review is taking forever"

"the issue is that to get the certificate your colleagues must grade the last asigment and it could take months to do that"

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Essentials of Palliative Care with these activities:

Complete practice questions on palliative care topics

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Test your understanding of palliative care concepts and identify areas where you need further clarification.

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Identify a website or platform that offers practice questions on palliative care topics.
Complete the practice questions and review your answers.
Identify areas where you need further clarification.
Seek out additional resources or ask for guidance from a colleague or mentor.

Watch a video tutorial on communicating with patients about difficult topics

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Learn effective communication techniques to enhance your ability to have open and compassionate conversations with patients.

Browse courses on Communication Skills

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Identify a video tutorial on communicating with patients about difficult topics.
Watch the video tutorial and take notes on key points.
Reflect on the communication techniques presented in the tutorial.
Practice using these techniques in your daily interactions with patients.
Seek feedback from colleagues or a mentor to improve your communication skills.

Practice difficult conversations

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Simulate difficult conversations with patients to improve communication skills.

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Identify and role-play challenging scenarios.
Practice empathy and active listening.
Seek feedback and refine communication techniques.

Six other activities

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Discuss a challenging case with a colleague

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Engage in case discussions to apply your knowledge of palliative care in realistic scenarios.

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Identify a challenging case that you have encountered in your practice.
Contact a colleague who is also a healthcare professional.
Discuss the case with your colleague online or in a face-to-face meeting.
Share your perspectives and insights.
Reflect on the discussion and how it can inform your future practice.

Write a blog post on a palliative care topic

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Enhance your understanding of palliative care concepts by explaining them clearly to others.

Browse courses on Palliative Care

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Choose a specific topic in palliative care that you are interested in.
Research the topic thoroughly using reliable sources.
Organize your thoughts and information into a clear and logical structure.
Write the blog post, ensuring it is well-written and easy to understand.
Publish the blog post on a platform where your target audience is likely to engage with it.

Participate in a palliative care case study competition

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Apply your knowledge and skills in a competitive setting to enhance your critical thinking and problem-solving abilities.

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Research upcoming palliative care case study competitions.
Identify a topic or case study that aligns with your interests and expertise.
Form a team or work independently.
Develop a comprehensive case study analysis and presentation.
Present your findings to a panel of judges.

Read 'The Palliative Approach: A Clinical Guide' by Richard Harding

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Familiarize yourself with the principles and practices of palliative care.

View Irwin and Rippe's Intensive Care Medicine on Amazon

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Obtain a copy of the book.
Read the book at a leisurely pace, taking notes as needed.
Use the book's index and table of contents to find specific information relevant to your practice.

Contribute to a palliative care-related open-source project

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Enhance your knowledge and skills by contributing to the advancement of palliative care through open-source initiatives.

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Explore palliative care-related open-source projects on platforms like GitHub.
Identify a project that aligns with your interests and skills.
Contact the project maintainers to express your interest in contributing.
Review the project documentation and contribution guidelines.
Make contributions to the project, such as code improvements, bug fixes, or documentation updates.

Volunteer with a hospice or palliative care organization

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Gain practical experience in providing end-of-life care and support to patients and their families.

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Research hospice and palliative care organizations in your area.
Contact the organization and inquire about volunteer opportunities.
Complete the necessary training and orientation programs.
Engage in volunteer activities such as providing companionship, assisting with daily tasks, or offering bereavement support.
Reflect on your volunteer experiences and how they have enhanced your understanding of palliative care.

Career center

Learners who complete Essentials of Palliative Care will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Patient Navigator

A Patient Navigator helps patients and families navigate the healthcare system and access the resources they need. This course would be very helpful for a Patient Navigator because it provides an overview of palliative care, including communication skills, psychosocial support, and goals of care planning. The course also provides tips for self-care, which is essential for patient navigators who work with patients and families who are coping with serious illness.

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Chaplain

A Chaplain provides spiritual support and guidance to patients and families who are coping with serious illness. This course would be very helpful for a Chaplain because it provides an overview of palliative care, including communication skills, psychosocial support, and goals of care planning. The course also provides tips for self-care, which is essential for chaplains who work with patients and families who are coping with serious illness.

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Bereavement Counselor

A Bereavement Counselor provides support and guidance to individuals who are grieving the loss of a loved one. This course would be very helpful for a Bereavement Counselor because it provides an overview of palliative care, including communication skills, psychosocial support, and goals of care planning. The course also provides tips for self-care, which is essential for bereavement counselors who work with individuals who are grieving.

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Hospice Nurse

A Hospice Nurse provides care and support to patients and families during the end of life. This course would be very helpful for a Hospice Nurse because it provides an overview of palliative care, including communication skills, psychosocial support, and goals of care planning. The course also provides tips for self-care, which is essential for nurses who work with patients and families during the end of life.

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Social Worker

A Social Worker provides emotional support and practical assistance to patients and families who are coping with serious illness. This course would be very helpful for a Social Worker because it provides an overview of palliative care, including communication skills, psychosocial support, and goals of care planning. The course also provides tips for self-care, which is essential for social workers who work with patients and families who are coping with serious illness.

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Palliative Care Physician

A Palliative Care Physician helps patients and families cope with the physical, emotional, and spiritual challenges of serious illness. This course would be very helpful for a Palliative Care Physician because it provides an overview of palliative care, including communication skills, psychosocial support, and goals of care planning. The course also provides tips for self-care, which is essential for physicians who work with patients with serious illnesses.

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Medical Assistant

A Medical Assistant provides administrative and clinical support to healthcare professionals. This course would be very helpful for a Medical Assistant because it provides an overview of palliative care, including communication skills, psychosocial support, and goals of care planning. The course also provides tips for self-care, which is essential for medical assistants who work with patients and families who are coping with serious illness.

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Nurse Practitioner

A Nurse Practitioner provides primary care to patients and families. This course would be very helpful for a Nurse Practitioner because it provides an overview of palliative care, including communication skills, psychosocial support, and goals of care planning. The course also provides tips for self-care, which is essential for nurse practitioners who work with patients and families who are coping with serious illness.

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Registered Nurse

A Registered Nurse provides care and support to patients and families in a variety of settings. This course would be very helpful for a Registered Nurse because it provides an overview of palliative care, including communication skills, psychosocial support, and goals of care planning. The course also provides tips for self-care, which is essential for registered nurses who work with patients and families who are coping with serious illness.

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Licensed Practical Nurse

A Licensed Practical Nurse provides basic care and support to patients and families under the supervision of a registered nurse or physician. This course would be very helpful for a Licensed Practical Nurse because it provides an overview of palliative care, including communication skills, psychosocial support, and goals of care planning. The course also provides tips for self-care, which is essential for licensed practical nurses who work with patients and families who are coping with serious illness.

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Home Health Aide

A Home Health Aide provides personal care and support to patients and families in their homes. This course may be helpful for a Home Health Aide because it provides an overview of palliative care, including communication skills, psychosocial support, and goals of care planning. The course also provides tips for self-care, which is essential for home health aides who work with patients and families who are coping with serious illness.

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Personal Care Aide

A Personal Care Aide provides personal care and support to patients and families in their homes or in assisted living facilities. This course may be helpful for a Personal Care Aide because it provides an overview of palliative care, including communication skills, psychosocial support, and goals of care planning. The course also provides tips for self-care, which is essential for personal care aides who work with patients and families who are coping with serious illness.

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Certified Nursing Assistant

A Certified Nursing Assistant provides basic care and support to patients and families under the supervision of a registered nurse or physician. This course may be helpful for a Certified Nursing Assistant because it provides an overview of palliative care, including communication skills, psychosocial support, and goals of care planning. The course also provides tips for self-care, which is essential for certified nursing assistants who work with patients and families who are coping with serious illness.

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Massage Therapist

A Massage Therapist provides massage therapy to patients and families to relieve pain and stress. This course may be helpful for a Massage Therapist because it provides an overview of palliative care, including communication skills, psychosocial support, and goals of care planning. The course also provides tips for self-care, which is essential for massage therapists who work with patients and families who are coping with serious illness.

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Yoga Instructor

A Yoga Instructor teaches yoga to patients and families to improve their physical and mental health. This course may be helpful for a Yoga Instructor because it provides an overview of palliative care, including communication skills, psychosocial support, and goals of care planning. The course also provides tips for self-care, which is essential for yoga instructors who work with patients and families who are coping with serious illness.

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