Training doctors in advanced stage patient care: from symptom control to management of the care team
ATTENDANCE | 80% lessons 100% internship |
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The II level University Master's Degree in "Palliative Care for specialist doctors" was created to provide theoretical knowledge and skills in the field of advanced stage patient care.
Students of the Master will acquire skills in the pathophysiological and pharmacological fields, in the diagnostics and clinic of complications and symptoms, in the ethical and psychological aspects, acquiring, at the end of the course, autonomous clinical skills in the specific sector.
The Master of Higher Education and Qualification is established pursuant to paragraph 1, article 8 of the law of 15 March 2010, n. 38 (Provisions to guarantee access to palliative care and pain therapy).
Recipients and access requirements
The II level University Master's degree in Palliative Care is designed for Medicine and Surgery graduates:
- who have already obtained a specialization in Anesthesiology and Intensive Care, Oncology/Medical Oncology, Neurology, Radiotherapy, Geriatrics;
- who have at least three years of documented experience in the field of palliative care and pain therapy in residential (e.g. hospice) and/or home care structures with documented palliative activity and inserted in the palliative care network;
- who, in possession of the title of Specific Training in General Medicine, have carried out general medicine activities for at least three years.
The Direction of the Master can decide, on the basis of the Curriculum Vitae of the single candidate, a reduction of the credits necessary for the achievement of the title, up to a maximum of 60 credits related to the professional activities, for the following candidates:
- doctors with at least five years of documented experience and/or with senior responsibility in the field of palliative care and pain therapy in residential (e.g. hospice) and/or home care facilities, included in the palliative care network and/or in ESMO facilities ( European Society of Clinical Oncology) Designated Center of Integrated Oncology and Palliative Care
- specialists in the disciplines referred to in art. 5, paragraph 2, law 15 March 2010, n. 38, who have carried out a documented elective course in palliative care (45 credits) and a specific thesis (15 credits for the final exam) during the specialization schools activated at the accredited faculties for the master in question;
- doctors who have already obtained a university master's degree in medicine/palliative care with documented professional activity.
Enrollment in the Master is compatible with enrollment in another university course in accordance with the provisions of Law no. 33 of 12/04/2022 and by DM 930 of 29/07/2022.
Educational objectives
Basic training objectives:
- learning of quality of life assessment methods;
- knowledge of the health needs of individuals and their families, and of the appropriateness and effectiveness of assistance interventions;
- knowledge of the main techniques of interpersonal communication;
- knowledge and acquisition of the principles of medical ethics and clinical bioethics;
- knowledge of the pathophysiology of pain;
- the theoretical knowledge and clinical practice necessary for the diagnosis and treatment of complications and symptoms in the advanced stage.
Characteristic educational objectives: the learner must acquire methodological skills pertaining to clinical logic, decision-making strategies, patient management, which guarantee a global approach to the solution of clinical and patient care problems.
He must also have acquired specific skills in the sectors of:
- evaluation and treatment of the symptoms of the advanced stage of the disease in any evolutionary pathology;
- planning and management of assistance to the terminally ill and his family;
- interaction with the public and private health and social services existing in the area;
- work in an interdisciplinary and interprofessional team;
- communication with patients and with the family nucleus.
Related or supplementary educational objectives:
The student must also develop skills in:
- acquisition of knowledge, skills and experiences of end-of-life accompaniment and bereavement support;
- acquisition of knowledge of nursing in residential and home palliative care;
- acquisition of bioethical principles applicable to critical situations;
- knowledge of the principles of anthropology applicable to terminal situations;
- knowledge of health management, work organization and health economics;
- evaluation and management of psychological suffering and of the spiritual dimension at the end of life;
- knowledge of the possibilities of physiotherapy support and CAM (Complementary and Alternative Therapies);
- skills and experience of integration with volunteering.
Compulsory professional activities:
- the pathophysiological interpretation of the clinical manifestations in at least 50 patients;
- the choice of pain therapy in at least 50 cases, interacting with the pain therapy network;
- the therapeutic choice for the control of the main symptoms of the terminal phase in at least 50 cases;
- carrying out information interviews with patients and/or their relatives in at least 50 cases;
- the choice of the therapeutic approach in critical or acute situations (hemorrhages, metabolic disturbances, spinal cord compressions, etc.) in at least 50 patients in various stages of the disease.
Final profile
Doctors with specific skills and experience in the field of palliative care (Law 38/2010 article 5, paragraph 2 and 3) who can carry out professional activities in public and private healthcare facilities and in non-profit organizations operating in the palliative care network (law 38/2010, art. 8, paragraph 3).
Didactic structure
The University Master has a duration of 24 months (for a total of 120 credits equal to 3000 total teaching hours). The training course is divided into 10 thematic areas:
- History, philosophy and anthropology of Palliative Care
- Palliative care in oncological diseases: assessment, management and treatment of symptoms
- Palliative care in non-oncological diseases: assessment, management and treatment of symptoms
- Pain assessment, management and treatment
- Deontology, ethics and bioethics in Palliative Care
- Communication with the patient and with the family
- The self care of the operators
- Management of the care team and inter-professional relationships
- Organization of services and management
- Supportive palliative care: simultaneous care
Internship
For the completion of the course and the achievement of the objectives, the students carry out their professionalizing activity in outpatient clinics, in ordinary hospitalization wards and in home care activities for a total number of hours of 1500 hours equal to 60 credits. Each professionalizing act is followed and certified in a specific booklet/register by a teacher of the assistance structure in which the activity is carried out.
The register and list of professional training activities contained therein is an integral part of the certification of the University Master's degree.
The internship will be divided into the following activities:
- the pathophysiological interpretation of the clinical manifestations in at least 50 patients; the choice of pain therapy in at least 50 cases, interacting with the pain therapy network;
- the therapeutic choice for the control of the main symptoms of the terminal phase in at least 50 cases;
- conducting information interviews with patients and/or their relatives in at least 50 cases,
- the choice of the therapeutic approach in critical or acute situations (hemorrhages, metabolic disturbances, compressions, etc.) in at least 50 patients in various phases of the disease.
PALLIATIVE CARE INTERNSHIP LOCATION*
- the Palliative Care Center "Together in Care", Campus Bio-Medico University Hospital Foundation
- the Antea Center - Network of Palliative Care and Pain Therapy
PAIN THERAPY INTERNSHIP LOCATION*
- Centers of the Pain Therapy Network
* Other internship locations are being identified
Attendance fee
The enrollment fee for the entire course of the Master is € 4.800,00 to be divided into the following 2 installments:
- €2.400,00 upon enrollment (28/11/2023)
- €2.400,00 by 31/10/2024
In no case will the fees be refunded.
Are provided discounted rates for undergraduates and graduates of theUniversità Campus Bio-Medico di Roma of the staff of the Fondazione Policlinico Universitario Campus Bio-Medico, of Antea and of the UCBM Academy Ambassadors.
In this case, the amount of each installment is €2.000 each, for a total of €4.000 instead of €4.800.
Method of admission
The application for admission to the Master must be submitted by 13/11/2023 using the online procedure and requires the inclusion of the following information:
- personal data and contact details;
- CV
- identity card;
- self-declaration in lieu of a certification;
- details of the successful transfer of the admission fee (€60).
Once confirmation of admission has been received, enrollment in the Master must be completed by November 28, 2023.
All payments, including that relating to the application for admission, must be made to a bank current account, the references are given below:
Accountholder - Università Campus Bio-Medico di Roma
Bank - UNICREDIT SPA
IBAN - IT04A0200805181000300478588
Specify the reason for each payment (Name and Surname - Master in palliative care 2st level).
Title awarded
Participants who complete the Master and comply with the administrative obligations will be awarded the title of II Level University Master in Advanced Training and Qualification in Palliative Care, established pursuant to paragraph 1, article 8 of the law of 15 March 2010, n. . 38 (Provisions to guarantee access to palliative care and pain therapy).
In order to obtain the Master degree, the participant must have acquired a total of 120 credits spread over two years of the course.
For the exemption of CME credits, refer to the Determination of the CNFC of 17 July 2013 on the subject of "Exonerations, Exemptions, Individual Tutoring, Training Abroad, Self-learning, Registration Methods and Certification".
Partner entities
The Master is promoted by the Departmental Faculty of Medicine and Surgery ofUniversità Campus Bio-Medico di Roma in collaboration with the Antea Foundation.
