Palliative care education: a nationwide
qualitative study of emergency medicine
residency program directors in the United
Arab Emirates
Dublin Core
Title
Palliative care education: a nationwide
qualitative study of emergency medicine
residency program directors in the United
Arab Emirates
qualitative study of emergency medicine
residency program directors in the United
Arab Emirates
Subject
Emergency medicine, Residency, Graduate medical education, Palliative care, End-of-life care
Description
Abstract
Background Emergency medicine (EM) physicians routinely care for patients with serious life-limiting illnesses.
Educating EM residents to have general skills and competencies in palliative medicine is a global priority. The purpose
of this study was to describe the current status of palliative and end-of-life education in EM residency programs in the
United Arab Emirates (UAE) and to identify barriers and opportunities to inculcating palliative care (PC) instruction
into EM training in a non-Western setting.
Methods Using the American College of Emergency Medicine’s milestones for Hospice and Palliative Medicine for
Emergency Medicine as a question guide, semi-structured interviews were conducted with program directors of all
7 EM residency programs in the UAE from January through July 2023. Qualitative content analysis was conducted to
identify recurring themes.
Results All program directors agreed that PC knowledge and skills are essential components of training for EM
residents but have had variable success in implementing a structured PC curriculum. Six themes emerged, namely the
educational curriculum, PC policies and practices, comprehensive PC services, cultural and religious barriers to PC, EM
scope of practice, and supporting residents after patient death.
Conclusion UAE national EM residency curriculum development is evolving with an emphasis on developing a
structured PC curriculum. As EM residencies implement policies and programs to improve care for patients and
families dealing with serious illness, future studies are needed to assess the impact of these initiatives on patient
quality of life and physician well-being.
Keywords Emergency medicine, Residency, Graduate medical education, Palliative care, End-of-life care
Background Emergency medicine (EM) physicians routinely care for patients with serious life-limiting illnesses.
Educating EM residents to have general skills and competencies in palliative medicine is a global priority. The purpose
of this study was to describe the current status of palliative and end-of-life education in EM residency programs in the
United Arab Emirates (UAE) and to identify barriers and opportunities to inculcating palliative care (PC) instruction
into EM training in a non-Western setting.
Methods Using the American College of Emergency Medicine’s milestones for Hospice and Palliative Medicine for
Emergency Medicine as a question guide, semi-structured interviews were conducted with program directors of all
7 EM residency programs in the UAE from January through July 2023. Qualitative content analysis was conducted to
identify recurring themes.
Results All program directors agreed that PC knowledge and skills are essential components of training for EM
residents but have had variable success in implementing a structured PC curriculum. Six themes emerged, namely the
educational curriculum, PC policies and practices, comprehensive PC services, cultural and religious barriers to PC, EM
scope of practice, and supporting residents after patient death.
Conclusion UAE national EM residency curriculum development is evolving with an emphasis on developing a
structured PC curriculum. As EM residencies implement policies and programs to improve care for patients and
families dealing with serious illness, future studies are needed to assess the impact of these initiatives on patient
quality of life and physician well-being.
Keywords Emergency medicine, Residency, Graduate medical education, Palliative care, End-of-life care
Creator
Thana Harhara1
, Rasha Buhumaid2,3, Leen Oyoun Alsoud4
and Halah Ibrahim4*
, Rasha Buhumaid2,3, Leen Oyoun Alsoud4
and Halah Ibrahim4*
Source
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12245-024-00643-z
Date
2024
Contributor
Peri Irawan
Format
pdf
Language
english
Type
text
Files
Collection
Citation
Thana Harhara1
, Rasha Buhumaid2,3, Leen Oyoun Alsoud4
and Halah Ibrahim4*, “Palliative care education: a nationwide
qualitative study of emergency medicine
residency program directors in the United
Arab Emirates,” Repository Horizon University Indonesia, accessed April 11, 2026, https://repository.horizon.ac.id/items/show/12349.
qualitative study of emergency medicine
residency program directors in the United
Arab Emirates,” Repository Horizon University Indonesia, accessed April 11, 2026, https://repository.horizon.ac.id/items/show/12349.