World Health Organization 20, Avenue Appia

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A WHO guide for planners, implementers and managers
Annex 5
 
Sample curricula in palliative care for primary health care 
(PHC) providers
Sample A: Basic curriculum for training doctors, clinical officers, assistant 
doctors, nurse practitioners
Day 1
1.1 Palliative care basic training course: goals and agenda
Slide presentation
1.2 Epidemiology of serious and life-threatening health problems in the country
Slide presentation
1.3 Palliative care: definition, principles, accessibility, and moral imperative
Slide presentation
1.4 Palliative care assessment: approach to the patient in need of palliative care
Slide presentation
1.5 Ethical issues and patient-doctor communication in palliative care: principles and practice
Slide presentation
1.6 Giving bad news
Role play in small groups
Day 2
2.1 Pain assessment and treatment: Part 1
Slide presentation
2.2 Pain assessment and treatment: Part 2
Slide presentation
2.3 Neurobiology of pain
Slide presentation
2.4 Opioid policy and barriers to opioid analgesia
Slide presentation
2.5 Pain cases
Small group discussion
Day 3
3.1 Dyspnea assessment and treatment
Slide presentation
3.2 Dyspnea case
Small group discussion

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Integrating palliative care and symptom relief into primary health care
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3.3 Nausea/vomiting assessment and treatment
Slide presentation
3.4 Constipation/diarrhoea assessment and treatment
Slide presentation
3.5 Gastrointestinal symptom case
Small group discussion
3.6 Constitutional symptoms assessment and treatment
Slide presentation
3.7 Dermatology in palliative care
Slide presentation
Day 4
4.1 Psychological distress in the seriously ill: depression and anxiety
Slide presentation
4.2 Altered mental status: delirium and dementia
Slide presentation
4.3 Loss, grief and bereavement
Slide presentation
4.4 Social and spiritual suffering
Large group discussion
4.5 Psychosocial assessment and support in palliative care
Slide presentation and small group role play
4.6 Professional resilience
Short lecture and large group discussion
4.8 Memorial ceremony
Group activity
Day 5
5.1 Palliative care needs and available services in the country
Slide presentation
5.2 Integrating palliative care into the health care system: global models
Slide presentation/discussion
5.3 Palliative care strategic planning: What can you do in your home institution?
Group work and discussion
Final examination
Source: Global Program of Harvard Medical School Center for Palliative Care and Massachusetts General Hospital, 2017.

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