Medical students’ attitude towards ethics, needs and challenges as potential palliative care volunteers in Republic of Moldova

Abstract

Introduction: Resulting from an increasing number of chronic pathologies, life threatening conditions and ageing in general population there is an emerging need to develop palliative care services that will be integrated in healthcare system. Volunteers have an important role in palliative practice reducing the costs of the service, rising awareness of medical issues in society and showing their own example in active civic involvement. As palliative care is in development in Moldova, future doctors should receive relevant education in this branch in order to bring their own contribution. Purpose and objectives: The aim of the study is to evaluate medical students’ availability, ethical views, barriers and facilities for participating in palliative care programs as volunteers. Materials and methods: A 6 pieces questionnaire including single/multiple choice and free answer options was designed for the study. The survey was composed from items referring to barriers and facilitation o f volunteering, self evaluation of knowledge in terminal illness management, ethical dilemmas and moment of palliative intervention during clinical management. The survey was completed by 42 undergraduate students. Results: Despite the fact that most medical students self estimate their knowledge and level of information in palliative care as low (45%) or medium (52%) the majority of them (83%) said that would be available and interested to participate in this field as volunteers, main motivations and facilities for the activity constituting: support from an experienced team, educational courses on palliative care and communication. At the same time barriers for volunteer work are lack of time, emotional/spiritual aspects and uncertainties regarding professional capacity. Pain control or psychological interaction between medical personnel and patient are the few ethical issues identified by students as less then 15% gave an answer to open question about moral and deontological dilemmas that could arise within palliation. Conclusion: Palliative care is an relatively new and optional study subject at the State University of Medicine and Pharmacy from Moldova that is why it is reasonable to regard volunteering activity in this field as a type of medical education gainflil for all participants including students, caregivers, patients and state institutions. Thereby it would be opportune to offer methodological and practical support for students towards ethical normative and moral issues within palliative practice.