Universitat Internacional de Catalunya

Desire for Hastened Death and End of Life Care

Desire for Hastened Death and End of Life Care
4
15133
1
First semester
OB
Main language of instruction: Spanish

Other languages of instruction: Catalan, English

Teaching staff


Dr. JULIÀ I TORRAS, Joaquim - jjulia@uic.es

Introduction

The course deals with the definition, epidemiology and clinical approach to the desire to bring forward death with a holistic and interdisciplinary vision. The concept, definition and clinical characteristics of the last days situation as well as palliative sedation (definition, ethical requirements and indications) are addressed.


Pre-course requirements

It is not necessary to have taken any other subject of the master's degree, although it is advisable to have taken the subject ‘Fundamentals of palliative care and anthropology of death’. 


Objectives

● To train students in the Palliative Care (PC) model based on multidimensional care through interdisciplinary teamwork. 

● To provide students with the development of skills, knowledge and methods of team intervention for the adequate detection and relief of suffering through the clinical control of symptoms, emotional, social and spiritual needs in an advanced situation and their family, respectively according to their professional profile. 

● To familiarise students with the appropriate management of the desire to bring forward death. 

● To offer students the necessary tools to have an interdisciplinary vision of the end-of-life situation. 


Competences/Learning outcomes of the degree programme

  • CN05 - Acquire knowledge in the management of complex end-of-life situations including the wish to bring forward death and considering all dimensions of the patient
  • CP01 - Work in a self-directed or autonomous manner in PC teams, formed by peers, specialists or not, and other professionals, respecting the fundamental rights of equality between men and women, the promotion of human rights and the values of a culture of peace and democratic values; using language that avoids androcentrism and stereotypes.
  • CP03 - Independently carry out tasks in the area of PC according to the protocols established for this purpose.
  • CP04 - Manage care practice by adapting it and prioritising the personalisation of care in complex and changing healthcare environments.
  • CP05 - Work individually and in teams, assuming responsibilities, within the area of PC.
  • CP09 - pply solutions to problems that may arise when carrying out tasks in the field of PCs.
  • HB01 - Make a critical reflection on the theory and its applications in the care of the patient at the end of life
  • HB03 - Integrate multidimensional care to the problems of patients in advanced illness.

Learning outcomes of the subject

On completion of the course, students will be able to: 

2.1 Demonstrate an in-depth knowledge in the care of the patient with a wish to bring forward death. 

2.2 Demonstrate a critical understanding of the ethical issues in end-of-life care and the wish to bring forward dying. 


Syllabus

  • Definition, epidemiology and characteristics of the wish to anticipate death.

  • Clinical assessment of the wish to hasten death.

  • Clinical responses to the wish to hasten death and euthanasia.

  • Definition and characteristics of the last days situation, impact on the family and crisis situations.

  • Palliative sedation: definition, ethical requirements and indications.

Teaching and learning activities

Online



  • Lectures with the main core of theoretical knowledge of the subject.

  • Viewing and analysis of videos with paradigmatic clinical situations. 

  • Reading and analysis of selected texts and articles.

  • Resolution of activities such as clinical cases, questionnaires and reflections.

  • Active participation in the subject's forum, organised by the teaching team.

  • Active participation in the synchronous session of the subject.

Evaluation systems and criteria

Online



This master's degree is based on continuous assessment. 

Continuous assessment activities: participation in individual and group tutorials of at least 50% (minimum) will be required to ensure synchronous participation with the teaching staff in asynchronous activities.

Below are some examples of continuous assessment activities: 

  • Asynchronous activities (70% of the qualification).

    • Delivery of the resolution of cases either in written form or through a video where the student will explain how to solve the case. It assesses the student's ability to apply the theoretical content learned to a real or simulated situation in the practice of the clinical profession.

    • Analysis of selected texts and articles.

    • Completion of questionnaires on the subject matter covered. 

    • Participation in discussion forums and wikis: the degree of active participation of students in their own learning is assessed.

  • Synchronous activities (30% of the grade)

    • Active participation in the synchronous session of the subject: In the case of students from different time zones, the time will be agreed in advance so that they can adapt. In any case, no student will be allowed to participate after 22h in their own time zone.

    • Possibility of face-to-face discussion activities with the tutor, individual and group tutorials.

Bibliography and resources

  • Desire to bring forward death

    • An International Consensus Definition of the Wish to Hasten Death and Its Related Factors. Balaguer A et al. PLoS One. 2016 Jan 4;11(1):e0146184. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0146184. eCollection 2016.

    • Understanding patients' experiences of the wish to hasten death: an updated and expanded systematic review and meta-ethnography. BMJ Open. 2017 Sep 29;7(9):e016659. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2017-016659. Andrea Rodríguez-Prat et al.

    • The clinical evaluation of the wish to hasten death is not upsetting for advanced cancer patients: A cross-sectional study.  Josep Porta-Sales et al. Palliat Med. 2019 Jun;33(6):570-577. doi: 10.1177/0269216318824526. Epub 2019 Jan 28.


Print version