Fundamentals of Palliative Care

This subject has the following teaching availabilities in 2015:

A combination of face to face and online delivery, with a strong clinical focus. A delivery format of four four-day subjects offered intensively in two day blocks throughout the year has been established to enable accessibility for regional and interstate health professionals.

170 hours per 12.5 credit point subject

To enrol in this subject, you must be admitted in either GC-PALLC or GC-PALCARE. This subject is not available for students admitted in any other courses.

For the purposes of considering requests for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Commonwealth 2005), and Students Experiencing Academic Disadvantage Policy, academic requirements for this course are articulated in the Course Overview, Objectives and Generic Skills sections of this entry.

It is University policy to take all reasonable steps to minimise the impact of disability upon academic study, and reasonable adjustments will be made to enhance a student's participation in the University's programs. Students who feel their disability may impact on meeting the requirements of this course are encouraged to discuss this matter with a Faculty Student Adviser and the Disability Liaison Unit: http://www.services.unimelb.edu.au/disability/

Students must complete all 4 days (outlined below) in order to complete the subject :

Days 1 & 2: Palliative Care: The Essentials
Days 3 & 4:Therapeutic Communication Skills for Palliative Care

Topics covered include:

• Principles, policy and standards of palliative care as they apply to practice
• Introduction to practice issues including patient assessment process
• Principles and practice of therapeutic communication skills
• Working effectively in multidisciplinary teams
• Responding to complex psychosocial issues including depression, anxiety, anger, prognosi

Students who successfully complete this subject will:

• Recognise the role of the multidisciplinary team and how the palliative approach to care is effective in improving patient outcomes
• Discuss the concept of holistic care as applied to a person with a life limiting illness
• Apply the principles of palliative care practice to a range of settings
• Consider the core principles of palliative care practice as they apply to the care of someone with a life limiting illness
• Identify and assess symptoms commonly experienced by patients during the terminal phase of an illness
• Reflect on and critique personal communication style
• Understand the key principles involved in undertaking a psychosocial assessment
• Explore the psychosocial impact of a life limiting illness for the patient and their family
• Identify, critique and evaluate current literature related to symptom management

• Written assignment (2000 words), due mid semester [40%]

• Online learning module and assessment (short answer questions – equivalent to 1000 words), due week 6 [10%]

• Written assignment (3000 words), due end of semester [50%]

As part of their course materials, students will be provided with articles and references that support the subject content.

This subject is not available as a breadth subject.