Palliative Medicine (Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre)

Unit Code

00492

Department/Institution Offering Unit

Centre for Palliative Care, Education and Research
Department of Medicine (St Vincent's)
based at Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre
2 St Andrew's Place
East Melbourne
Victoria 3002 Australia

Unit Points

Research Points: 81.25

Coursework Points: 18.75

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Contacts

Unit Coordinator/s:
Dr Odette Spruyt
Department of Pain and Palliative Medicine
Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre
St Andrew's Place
East Melbourne
Victoria 3002 Australia

tel: +61 3 9656 1918
email: Odette.Spruyt@petermac.org

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Overall Objectives

Palliative medicine is the specialised health care of people with advanced and progressive illness such as cancer which aims to maximise quality of life and assist families and carers during the illness, through the dying process, and after death. This unit is designed to:

• Provide an introduction to the processes and practice of clinical research in palliative medicine.
• Develop an in-depth understanding of common clinical problems and the role of research in the development of improved practice.
• Enable a critical appraisal of the literature that provides the evidence base for this clinical practice.
• Develop attitudes and skills that assist in the comprehensive care of the dying and their families.

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Content

Coursework: There are several components to the coursework selection for this unit.

One coursework subject must be taken chosen from:
Intermediate Epidemiology and Biostatistics 12.5 points
Qualitative Health Research 12.5 points

An additional piece of coursework is also compulsory:
A reflective essay on an aspect of Palliative Care, death, dying, loss or grief: 6.25 points

Research: An original, supervised research project. Supervisors can be drawn from the following pool:

Dr Eleanor Flynn - Caritas Christi, Fitzroy
Dr Jenny Hynson - Royal Children's Hospital
Dr Odette Spruyt - Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre
Dr Julia Fleming - Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre
Dr Linda Mileshkin - Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre
Dr Michael Jefford - Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre

Sample Research Topics:

1. Symptom assessment and management in the palliative care patient e.g. Nausea and vomiting, Pain, Dyspnoea, Delirium.
2. Ethnospecific attitudes to various aspects of palliation e.g. death and dying, pain control, communication and prognostication.
3. Care of the imminently dying patient.
4. Psychological effects of receiving a terminal diagnosis.
5. Demoralization and its impact on compliance.
6. Prognosis, its nature and communication.
7. Disorders of hope.
8. Disorders of meaning.
9. The ethics of sedation in terminal care.
10. Complementary and Alternative therapies.
11. Neurocognitive aspects of pain.
12. Dignified death - what does this mean?
13. Clinical pharmacological studies in palliative care.
14. Screening for psychological distress in the cancer population.
15. Needs of the family and carers.
16. Psycho-cognitive and social factors in processing information for patients and carers.
17. Doctor-patient communication.
18. Survivorship.
19. Informed consent for clinical trials and treatments.
20. Smoking cessation.
21. Paediatric Palliative care.

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Assessment Breakdown

Research Component: 81.25 points
Research Report (9,000 words)
An oral presentation may be required.

Coursework Component: 18.75 points
A reflective essay on an aspect of Palliative Care, death, dying, loss or grief: 6.25 points.
Intermediate Epidemiology and Biostatistics, and Qualitative Health Research will be assessed as per subject descriptions: 12.5 points

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Student Numbers

Number of places available:
Max: 8
Min: 3