Journal of palliative medicine
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Most children with cancer and their parents desire honest communication about prognosis, even when prognosis is poor. Unfortunately, many parents perceive deficits in communication about prognosis, and strategies are needed to encourage timely person-centered prognostic discussions. ⋯ In this case series, we examine the seed planting approach more closely, identifying language strategies that clinicians used to help patients and families gain insight into prognostic gravity as their illness evolved. Although further research is needed to measure the full impact of a seed planting approach, this case series explores a longitudinal communication strategy with potential to improve prognostic communication across an advancing illness course.
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Introduction: Despite recent educational advances, the need for a national standardized primary palliative care curriculum for health professions students remains evident. Methods: An interprofessional leadership team developed a set of core learning objectives built on previously published competencies. A survey was then sent to palliative care experts for feedback and consensus. ⋯ Discussion: With interprofessional input at all stages, we finalized a comprehensive list of 26 learning objectives for a primary palliative care curriculum targeting health professions students. These objectives will be widely available through an online course but can also be adopted for use by individual educators across health professions institutions. These objectives and related curriculum are critical to producing practice-ready clinicians who are prepared to care for the burgeoning population of seriously ill patients.