Background and aims: Palliative medicine is not recognized as a medical specialty in any of the five Nordic countries, but there is a great need for physicians with specialty qualifications to serve on an increasing number of palliative care services. The Associations for Palliative Medicine in the five countries agreed to develop a common Nordic course on a specialty level. Results: A theoretical training course in six modules in two years was developed, based on the British palliative medicine curriculum and including a limited research project and a written exam. Twenty-two out of 30 students completed the first course as scheduled in 2005, and five more have obtained their course diploma later. The evaluation from the students showed very satisfactory personal experiences and subjective learning outcomes, and a positive influence on the overall development of palliative care in the respective countries. Conclusion: The Nordic Specialist Course in Palliative Medicine has proved a successful Nordic collaboration and may form the basis for a full specialist training programme.
1 Doyle D . Palliative medicine training for physicians.J Neurol1997; 244(Suppl 4): S26 – S29 .
2.
3.
3 Association of Palliative Medicine of Great Britain and Ireland . Palliative Medicine Curriculum APM.Southampton : Association of Palliative Medicine of Great Britain and Ireland , 1992.
4.
4 Association of Palliative Medicine of Great Britain and Ireland . Curriculum for Higher Specialist Training in Palliative Medicine, including Syllabus for Higher Specialist Training in Palliative Medicine.Southampton : Association of Palliative Medicine of Great Britain and Ireland , 2001.
5.
5 European Association for Palliative Care. Report and Recommendations of a Workshop on Palliative Medicine Education and Training for Doctors in Europe. Milan: European Association for Palliative Care (EAPC), 1993.
6.
7.
7 Smeding RMWesterberg Larsson H . The Nordic Core Curriculum in Palliative Care.The Nordic Cancer Union , 2004.
8.
8 Koffman JHigginson IJ . Assessing the effectiveness and acceptability of interprofessional palliative care education.J Palliat Care2005; 21: 262 – 269 .
9.
9 Rawlinson FFinlay I . Assessing education in palliative medicine: development of a tool based on the Association for Palliative Medicine core curriculum.Palliat Med2002; 16: 51 – 55 .
10.
10 Knowles M . The Adult Learner: A Neglected Species.Houston, TX : Gulf Publishing , 1990.
11.
11 D DoyleG HanksN ChernyK Calman , eds. Oxford Textbook of Palliative Medicine, third edition. Oxford : Oxford University Press , 2004.
12.
12 Faulkner AMaguire P . Talking to Cancer Patients and Their Families.Oxford : Oxford University Press1994.
13.
13 Grant JEvans KMay RSavage SSavage R . An Evaluation Pack for Education in General Practice.London : British Postgraduate Medical Federation, South East Thames Region, University of London , 1993.
14.
14 Stirling LCPegrum HGeorge R . A survey of education and research facilities for palliative medicine trainees in the United Kingdom.Palliat Med2000; 14: 37 – 52 .
15.
16.
16 National Board of Health . National Cancer Plan II Denmark. National Board of Health Recommendations for Improving Cancer Healthcare Services.Copenhagen : National Board of Health , 2005.
17.
18.
18 SOU 2001:6. Döden angår oss alla – Värdig vård vid livets slut. Statens offentliga utredningar, Socialdepartementet 2001 (Swedish Official Report, No 6, 2001. Death Concerns us all – Dignified Care at the End of Life. Ministry of Health and Social Affairs 2001) (in Swedish).
19.
19 Norges offentlige utredninger. NOU 1999: 2. Livshjelp. Behandling, pleie og omsorg for uhelbredelig syke og døende (Norwegian Official Report, No 2, 1999. Life help. Treatment and care for the incurably ill and the dying) (in Norwegian).
