Purpose: A statewide survey of postgraduate medical training programs was conducted to determine
the current status of training related to end-of-life (EOL) care and hospice care training.
Methods: A mail survey of 275 program directors was conducted with a response rate of
70%. The questionnaire focused on information about training in EOL care and hospice care:
specific content, required and elective experiences, teaching formats, and program directors'
ratings of the perceived adequacy of training. This study received Institutional Review Board
(IRB) approval.
Results: Less than half (46%) of the residency programs reported any formal training in
EOL care, and less than one third (31%) reported training in hospice care. A majority of programs
with EOL and/or hospice training required it for all residents. Of the programs with
required hospice training, only half included a clinical component; fewer programs with EOL
training reported a clinical component. Most program directors rated their programs as adequate
or excellent in terms of EOL and hospice care, whether they had formal training or not.
Conclusions: The results of the survey demonstrate considerable variability in training with
respect to hospice and EOL care. Training through direct clinical experience was infrequently
reported. There has been little formal adoption of published curricula in this area. The high
level of adequacy in the rating of training by program directors contrasts with relative lack
of reported curriculum content and implementation, suggesting that improvements in EOL
care training will be slow to come if left in the hands of program directors.
