Study urges more palliative care training

SACRAMENTO, Sep 19, 2005 (United Press International via COMTEX) -- A University of California-Davis Medical Center survey of general surgeons suggests they receive only limited training in "quality-of-life" care.

Researchers looked at doctors' training in quality-of-life -- or palliative -- care, the object of which is to relieve symptoms rather than cure disease or extend survival.

Dr. Joseph Galante and colleagues surveyed 124 surgeons in Sacramento, Calif., and the surrounding area about the type and extent of their postgraduate education in palliative surgery.

The researchers said significant deficiencies in education were identified; with 84 percent of the respondents not receiving any education in palliative surgical care during residency. And 44 percent lacked continuing medical education.

Noting prior education affects a surgeon's treatment recommendations, the authors said, "We advocate a continued effort to train surgeons in palliation and recommend that the training be part of a nationwide program to standardize palliative surgical care."

The survey is detailed in the September issue of the journal Archives of Surgery.