What is Palliative Care? from Coursera

Palliative care provides invaluable help for patients living with serious or life-limiting illness and their family caregivers. Palliative care should be part of healthcare services to improve quality of life, the ability to tolerate and benefit from treatment and improve survival. In this course, you will learn about the nature of suffering and how this concept can help you understand the experience of people living with serious illness. Next, you will learn skills to more effectively communicate with patients, families and other care providers to both understand their experiences and provide an extra layer of support. In the next module you will explore your own core values and beliefs and how they impact your work with others. Finally, you will learn how to do a whole person assessment to understand the needs of people with serious illness so you can develop a plan to support them.

You will be able to immediately use these insights, skills and tools in your work with people living with serious illness. In later courses, you will learn to ease pain and other symptoms, such as loss of appetite, shortness of breath and fatigue. In the final course, you will explore ways to ease psycho-social-spiritual distress. These courses will prepare you to bring basic palliative care to all in need.

What's inside

Syllabus

Suffering

In this module, you will learn about suffering. Suffering is different for each person living with serious illness. Suffering has many causes, such as pain, and other physical symptoms. People also suffer because of emotional, spiritual and social concerns. If you have done a great job of easing pain, but you don’t offer help for other problems, the person will still suffer. You will learn how to help people feel like someone understands them and they are not alone. You will learn how to help people feel better, with less confusion and more hope. Finally, you will hear Ollie Green talk about his experiences of illness and suffering.

SNAP

In this lesson, you’ll learn about SNAP, an easy-to-remember set of skills to use for effective conversations about values and beliefs.

Communication in Palliative Care

In this module you will learn about the importance of good communication skills as we work with patients and families living with serious illness. People often believe that communication skills are something you are born with... She is just ‘a natural’ at talking with patients and families. They always love to talk with her. I am just not good at talking with others… We would never say “She is just 'a natural' at walking, reading, driving a car or any of other things that we need to be able to do to live and enjoy our lives." We watch and learn from others and then we work and practice until we can master a new skill. We all can learn ways to be better at communicating with patients and families. We can learn basic skills of active listening, being supportive, providing and reinforcing information to patients and families, and encouraging the patient/family caregiver to talk with us. In this module, we will review some specific techniques to use when we share bad news with a patient and family caregiver. This can be scary and uncomfortable for both the patient, the family caregiver and the healthcare providers. However, this too can become a natural part of our goal of patient-centered communication.

Effective Palliative Care Begins with Self-Awareness

This module has three lessons. In the first lesson, you will explore your personal values and beliefs around health, illness and dying. This self-awareness will improve your ability to have effective palliative care conversations with people who have serious illnesses. In the second lesson, you will reflect on your values and beliefs from childhood and consider what's important to you as an adult. We will focus on values and beliefs around health, illness and dying, all of which are important to consider in palliative care. Lastly, you will reflect on your potential to judge or pull away from people who don't share your values and beliefs.

Whole Person Assessment

In this module we will talk about the need to assess all dimensions of health. These include the physical, the spiritual, the psychological, the social and the economic areas that cause people living with serious illness distress.

Good to know

Know what's good

, what to watch for

, and possible dealbreakers

Provides an introduction to palliative care, focusing on understanding suffering and communicating effectively with patients and families

Emphasizes the importance of self-awareness and personal values in providing effective palliative care

Teaches a holistic approach to palliative care, addressing physical, spiritual, psychological, social, and economic dimensions of health

Offers practical skills and tools for effective communication and patient assessment, making it immediately applicable in real-world settings

Led by experienced instructors from various backgrounds, bringing a diverse perspective to palliative care

Reviews summary

Powerful palliative care primer

Learners say this course is excellent! According to students, it's a well-rounded introduction to palliative care that's well-presented and informative with a great setup that makes sense. Feedback indicates that the course is useful and relevant to professionals in the field, and provides foundational information and skills that can be applied in practice. While there were some technical issues with tests noted, the overall sentiment of reviews is largely positive.

Instructors are knowledgeable and experienced.

"the teachers are so knowledgeable"

"In the past, i have received different class (as a medstudent) about telling bad news and very few about palliative care, and i can notice that most of my teachers just repeat theory, but in this course they talk with their experience, thats lovely."

"The inter-professional experience and expertise of the course creators are truly reflected in the material, providing learners from all walks of life a solid foundation in making sense of the purpose and competencies of the field."

Logical structure and well-organized content.

"The set up was logical and followed topics in a way that made sense."

"This course was very informative and enjoyable. The set up was logical and followed topics in a way that made sense."

"Excellent course!! Even if can't compare to a master's degree, it certainly helps with the foundations you'll need in the future if you want to take this path in healthcare."

End-of-life care is a key focus.

"Palliative care is a program put together for the terminally ill and family."

"it was a very informative course and it helped me better understand how to deal with patients in end-of-life situations."

"This course is an excellent, whole-rounded introduction to palliative care."

Teaches skills that can be applied immediately.

"I could use some of the basic principles immediately in my regular practice of Neurology"

"This coarse was fantastic! Very informative and teaches skills that will definitely help in working with person(s) with serious illness."

"Definitely worth the time spent here."

Helpful information and resources provided.

"I loved all the information, videos and resources presented."

"This is a very informative as well worth enrollment course."

"Excellent coverage of foundational information."

Some say the length is excessive.

"This seemed way too long for what palliative care is."

"I think that the fluff could be eliminated and the course could be shortened."

"we lose focus by the end."

Some technical issues with tests reported.

"Page formatting needs work. Quizzes don't show up with proper answers. Tests are too vague for the write in course material."

"The tests were skewed, the questions were hard to answer because the page had errors."

"Excellent coverage of foundational information. Some technical issues with tests"

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 What is Palliative Care? with these activities:

Review Communication Techniques for Palliative Care

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Strengthen your communication abilities to effectively engage with patients, families, and colleagues in palliative care settings.

Browse courses on Communication Skills

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Read articles or attend webinars on effective communication in palliative care
Practice active listening and empathy skills through role-playing or simulations
Seek feedback from colleagues or a mentor on your communication approach

Review Pain Management in Palliative Care

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Refresh your knowledge on pain management strategies and assessment techniques relevant to palliative care.

Browse courses on Pain Management

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Review textbooks or online resources on pain management in palliative care
Attend a workshop or webinar on pain assessment and management
Practice pain assessment techniques through simulations or case studies

Read Inspiring Stories of Palliative Care

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By reviewing accounts of palliative care in practice, you will gain a deeper understanding of the challenges and rewards of this field.

View Being Mortal on Amazon

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Choose a book to read
Set aside dedicated time for reading
Take notes on key concepts and insights
Reflect on the stories and how they relate to your own work

Five other activities

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Explore Online Resources on Palliative Care

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Access additional resources and perspectives on palliative care through curated online tutorials and materials.

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Identify reputable websites and organizations specializing in palliative care
Explore online courses, webinars, and videos on palliative care
Connect with online communities and forums for palliative care professionals

Engage in Peer-Led Discussions

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Engage in discussions with fellow learners to exchange knowledge, perspectives, and experiences related to palliative care.

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Connect with peers through online forums, study groups, or social media platforms
Attend virtual or in-person meetups to participate in discussions
Share insights, ask questions, and support other learners

Create a Personal Reflection on Palliative Care

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Solidify your understanding of palliative care principles by engaging in self-reflection and writing.

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Set aside time for quiet reflection on your experiences with palliative care
Write a personal essay or journal entry exploring your thoughts and feelings
Share your insights with others, such as colleagues or a support group

Participate in Palliative Care Volunteer Opportunities

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Gain practical experience and deepen your understanding of palliative care through hands-on volunteering.

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Research local organizations and programs offering palliative care services
Reach out to organizations to inquire about volunteer opportunities
Attend training and orientation sessions to prepare for your role
Provide support to patients, families, and staff in palliative care settings

Develop a Palliative Care Plan

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Apply your knowledge and skills to create a comprehensive palliative care plan for a hypothetical patient.

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Choose a case study or create a hypothetical patient profile
Conduct a comprehensive assessment of the patient's physical, psychological, social, and spiritual needs
Develop a holistic care plan that addresses the patient's goals and preferences
Present your care plan to a group of peers or colleagues for feedback

Career center

Learners who complete What is Palliative Care? will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Palliative Care Social Worker

Palliative care social workers help patients and families cope with the emotional, social, and practical challenges of serious illness. This course provides a foundation in the principles and practices of palliative care, including communication skills, pain and symptom management, and psychosocial support. This course can help you develop the skills and knowledge needed to provide compassionate and effective care to patients and families facing serious illness.

See salaries and explore the career path for Palliative Care Social Worker

Hospice Nurse

Hospice nurses provide care to patients with life-limiting illnesses. This course provides a foundation in the principles and practices of palliative care, including pain and symptom management, communication skills, and psychosocial support. This course can help you develop the skills and knowledge needed to provide compassionate and effective care to patients and families facing serious illness.

See salaries and explore the career path for Hospice Nurse

Chaplain

Chaplains provide spiritual and emotional support to patients and families facing serious illness. This course provides a foundation in the principles and practices of palliative care, including communication skills, pain and symptom management, and psychosocial support. This course can help you develop the skills and knowledge needed to provide compassionate and effective care to patients and families facing serious illness.

See salaries and explore the career path for Chaplain

Bereavement Counselor

Bereavement counselors help people cope with the death of a loved one. This course provides a foundation in the principles and practices of palliative care, including communication skills, pain and symptom management, and psychosocial support. This course can help you develop the skills and knowledge needed to provide compassionate and effective care to people who are grieving.

See salaries and explore the career path for Bereavement Counselor

Medical Social Worker

Medical social workers help patients and families cope with the social and emotional challenges of illness and disability. This course provides a foundation in the principles and practices of palliative care, including communication skills, pain and symptom management, and psychosocial support. This course can help you develop the skills and knowledge needed to provide compassionate and effective care to patients and families facing serious illness.

See salaries and explore the career path for Medical Social Worker

Case Manager

Case managers help patients and families navigate the healthcare system and access resources. This course provides a foundation in the principles and practices of palliative care, including communication skills, pain and symptom management, and psychosocial support. This course can help you develop the skills and knowledge needed to provide compassionate and effective care to patients and families facing serious illness.

See salaries and explore the career path for Case Manager

Patient Navigator

Patient navigators help patients and families understand their medical conditions and treatment options. This course provides a foundation in the principles and practices of palliative care, including communication skills, pain and symptom management, and psychosocial support. This course can help you develop the skills and knowledge needed to provide compassionate and effective care to patients and families facing serious illness.

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Health Educator

Health educators teach people about health and wellness. This course provides a foundation in the principles and practices of palliative care, including communication skills, pain and symptom management, and psychosocial support. This course can help you develop the skills and knowledge needed to provide compassionate and effective care to patients and families facing serious illness.

See salaries and explore the career path for Health Educator

Pharmacist

Pharmacists dispense medications and provide information about their use. This course provides a foundation in the principles and practices of palliative care, including pain and symptom management. This course can help you develop the skills and knowledge needed to provide compassionate and effective care to patients and families facing serious illness.

See salaries and explore the career path for Pharmacist

Physician Assistant

Physician assistants provide medical care under the supervision of a physician. This course provides a foundation in the principles and practices of palliative care, including pain and symptom management. This course can help you develop the skills and knowledge needed to provide compassionate and effective care to patients and families facing serious illness.

See salaries and explore the career path for Physician Assistant

Registered Nurse

Registered nurses provide nursing care to patients in a variety of settings. This course provides a foundation in the principles and practices of palliative care, including pain and symptom management. This course can help you develop the skills and knowledge needed to provide compassionate and effective care to patients and families facing serious illness.

See salaries and explore the career path for Registered Nurse

Psychologist

Psychologists provide mental health care to individuals and families. This course provides a foundation in the principles and practices of palliative care, including psychosocial support. This course can help you develop the skills and knowledge needed to provide compassionate and effective care to patients and families facing serious illness.

See salaries and explore the career path for Psychologist

Social Worker

Social workers help people cope with social and emotional problems. This course provides a foundation in the principles and practices of palliative care, including psychosocial support. This course can help you develop the skills and knowledge needed to provide compassionate and effective care to patients and families facing serious illness.

See salaries and explore the career path for Social Worker

Grief Counselor

Grief counselors help people cope with the death of a loved one. This course provides a foundation in the principles and practices of palliative care, including psychosocial support. This course can help you develop the skills and knowledge needed to provide compassionate and effective care to people who are grieving.

See salaries and explore the career path for Grief Counselor

Massage Therapist

Massage therapists provide massage therapy to relieve pain and promote relaxation. This course provides a foundation in the principles and practices of palliative care, including pain and symptom management. This course can help you develop the skills and knowledge needed to provide compassionate and effective care to patients and families facing serious illness.

See salaries and explore the career path for Massage Therapist