Perceptions of Nutrition undergraduates on Palliative Care and professional education

Abstract

ABSTRACT

Objective: To support the implementation of Palliative Care in undergraduate Nutrition courses, this study aimed to identify perceptions of Nutrition undergraduates about palliative care and professional training of nutritionists. Methods: This is a qualitative study, carried out in 2018, with undergraduates from the Nutrition Program at the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Campus of Macaé. The participants attended a lectured on the subject, performed in a dialogical manner. They then answered a semi-structured questionnaire. Their responses were analyzed by thematic analysis. Results: The students reported that Palliative Care was hardly ever addressed during their courses and that expanding discussions on this topic was fundamental for their education. Conclusion: This present study sheds light on difficulties in Palliative Care education, which can be correlated to general gaps in nutrition and health training in Brazil. Curricular revisions may be planned according to these results, to deepen and naturalize discussions about death in higher education.