Published on: April 5, 2011

The goal of training is to change practice; not simply acquire knowledge yet too often curriculums and assessment focus on knowledge and skills.

A quote from Dr Mhoira Leng‘s paper, Networking and training in palliative care – Challenging values and changing practice, for the Indian Journal of Palliative Medicine.

To illustrate this point, she quotes the following responses from participants of palliative care training programs:

• ‘I will be a better doctor now’
• ‘This palliative care course has reminded me why I came into Medicine in the first place.’
• ‘I feel better equipped to help people and their families.’
• ‘This will help my practice from tomorrow.’
• ‘I have learned to listen.’
• ‘I now understand what palliative care means and there will be a palliative care team in my hospital from this year’.

No doubt, a change in attitude is as important as knowledge and skills!

You can read the full article (free access) on the IJPC website (Vol 17, issue 4, pages 33-35):

“Networking and training in palliative care – Challenging values and changing practice.”

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You can also read about Mhoira’s recent “Whirlwind Tour” of India on her blog.