When APCA facilitated a workshop in Kenya to guide academic lecturers in teaching methodologies for palliative care, it only seemed appropriate to incorporate the very teaching methodologies taught at the training into the workshop itself. Participant lecturers engaged in role play, sculpting and group work, reflective of teaching models that highlight communcation practices, mentorship and peer evaluation, all included in a draft manual for palliative care teaching methodologies being piloted through support from The Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Fund.
Since 2009, APCA has been working to see health teaching institutions integrate palliative care into their teaching methodologies and curriculum. However, it is only recently that a draft guide for palliative care educators in Africa has been developed and piloted in Malawi and Kenya.
“Learning never ceases, the training evoked my desire to pursue palliative care issues in research and teaching,” said one of the participants in the training.
For effective teaching of palliative care, lecturers and tutors need to have a thorough understanding of the concept of palliative care and its underlying principles. They will also need mentors who they can go to with questions and concerns regarding teaching palliative care.
KEHPCA’s Executive Director, Dr Zipporah Ali, noted that such courses should be extended to all lecturers, including herself as many palliative care educators have a very basic knowledge base regarding effective methods of teaching palliative care, and teaching in general.
Let us hear from you
What have been your experiences in teaching about palliative care? How do you think a teaching methodology manual can help prepare you to teach about palliative care?
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