Training and mentoring paediatricians to provide palliative care for children is an important step to address the needs of children with serious illnesses in Sri Lanka. There are an estimated 34,000 children in Sri Lanka who need palliative care each year.
In partnership with the Sri Lanka College of Paediatricians, the Sri Lanka Medical Association, Sri Lanka College of Oncologists, Lady Ridgeway Hospital for Children in Colombo, and the National Cancer Institute Maharagama (Apeksha Hospital), Two Worlds Cancer Collaboration organized an online palliative care training program for paediatricians and other healthcare personnel involved in paediatric palliative care.
The training programme followed the Project ECHO model, which includes weekly sessions with interactive lectures, small group discussions and case presentations. There were 8 weekly sessions attended by more than 50 paediatricians and paediatric residents.
Sessions included lectures and discussions from regional and international experts. During each session, participants were divided into virtual small groups for discussions focused on key questions related to the session topic.
Participants were awarded a certificate after participating in all course sessions and passing the final online quiz. The Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health in the United Kingdom has also endorsed this programme.
Course topics included:
- Palliative care principles for children with serious illnesses
- Providing compassionate communication challenges
- Pain management for children, including the use of opioids
- Managing difficult symptoms (dyspnea, delirium, spasticity, dystonia, and secretions)
- Palliative care emergencies
- Caring for children and families during the final days and weeks of life
- Palliative care nursing
- Use of therapeutic play in palliative care
- Grief and bereavement.
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