Oops, you're using an old version of your browser so some of the features on this page may not be displaying properly.

MINIMAL Requirements: Google Chrome 24+Mozilla Firefox 20+Internet Explorer 11Opera 15–18Apple Safari 7SeaMonkey 2.15-2.23

Poster session 10

1500P - Caring for carers: The impact of death & dying on doctors-in-training in an Irish tertiary referral hospital

Date

14 Sep 2024

Session

Poster session 10

Topics

End-of-Life Care

Tumour Site

Presenters

Conor Moloney

Citation

Annals of Oncology (2024) 35 (suppl_2): S913-S922. 10.1016/annonc/annonc1604

Authors

C. Moloney1, C. Steele1, C. Forrest1, E. Lynch1, M. Eltayib1, M. Lyons1, D. Nuzum2, H. O'Sullivan1, S. O'Reilly1

Author affiliations

  • 1 Medical Oncology, CUH - Cork University Hospital, T12 DFK4 - Cork/IE
  • 2 Pastoral Care And Education, CUH - Cork University Hospital, T12 DFK4 - Cork/IE

Resources

Login to get immediate access to this content.

If you do not have an ESMO account, please create one for free.

Abstract 1500P

Background

Approximately 50% of deaths worldwide occur in an acute hospital setting. Doctors-in-training (DITs) experience death & dying in many forms and settings, and at every stage of their medical training. They often feel unprepared or unsupported when providing this care, which can cause significant distress. Yet, our experience is that DITs do not receive much, if any, specific training or support in approaching these events. The purpose of this study is to establish the training and education received by DITs in Cork University Hospital in dealing with death and explore the concept of spirituality in relation to their own experiences.

Methods

We performed a qualitative survey of DITs using a 27-question electronic survey. Participants answered questions regarding the prior training or education they had received relating to death and dying, their confidence in recognising and managing dying, and their opinion on the adequacy of the training or support available currently. A modified version of the Spiritual Wellbeing Scale (SWBS) questionnaire, a validated tool to provide an overall measure of perceived spiritual quality of life, was used to assess impact on spirituality.

Results

130 DITs responded to our survey (female=75). 67% disagreed or strongly disagreed (n=87) that they have received adequate training in relation to death & dying. Almost half did not feel confident discussing end-of-life care with patients or their families (n=63), and 69% (n=88) felt that support offered after the death of a patient was inadequate. The vast majority agreed or strongly agreed (n=124) that end-of-life care was important to the delivery of acute care. 71% (n=92) reported that the death of a patient had had a personal impact on them. The median Existential Wellbeing Score was 44 (range 24-59), indicating a moderate sense of life satisfaction. Of note, however, 49% (n=64) responded that they felt unsettled about their future.

Conclusions

Patient deaths frequently impact DITs. This survey highlights the importance of improving the training and supports available to DITs in dealing with death & dying. This has the potential to benefit both DITs, through better wellbeing, and their patients, by improving confidence and competence providing end-of-life care.

Clinical trial identification

Editorial acknowledgement

Legal entity responsible for the study

Cork University Hospital Medical Oncology Department.

Funding

Has not received any funding.

Disclosure

All authors have declared no conflicts of interest.

This site uses cookies. Some of these cookies are essential, while others help us improve your experience by providing insights into how the site is being used.

For more detailed information on the cookies we use, please check our Privacy Policy.

Customise settings
  • Necessary cookies enable core functionality. The website cannot function properly without these cookies, and you can only disable them by changing your browser preferences.