USAPI Palliative Care Curriculum

Description of the Palliative Care Curriculum

This 8-module curriculum is specifically designed to teach USAPI* healthcare practitioners the core concepts and skills of palliative and end-of-life care through a series of lectures that are supported by power point slides, exercise and case studies.  The modules can be used as stand-alone sessions or the entire curriculum can be taught with each successive module building on the previous ones and encouraging reflection on the development of a regionalized palliative care system.

The curriculum is designed to be tailored to fit each culture and health care system.  An Adaptation Guide accompanies the curriculum and exercises and role plays can help determine appropriate modifications and additions.  Each module lasts 2 hours.

Topics covered:

Module 1:  Introduction to Palliative Care
Module 2: Pain Management
Module 3 & 4: Symptom Management (Constipation, Incontinence, Dyspnea, Anorexia)
Module 5: Care at the End of Life (Active Dying)
Module 6:  Essentials to Communication
Module 7: Spirituality
Module 8: Insights into Caregiver Issues

Overview of USAPI Palliative Care Curriculum

General considerations

  • The curriculum uses the principles of adult learning
  • The curriculum is created around a series of eight (8) stand alone modules
  • Each module can be taught within a 2-hour period
  • The intended audience is community health workers who would take the course at a community college
  • The content is basic, covering core competencies

Structure of slide sets:

  • Pre-Test
  • Introduction to the module subject
  • Learning objectives
  • Key concepts & skills
  • Content development
  • Case studies or exercises
  • Handouts
  • References
  • Post-Test

Teacher materials:

Review these in advance and adapt as needed for your particular location, target audience, and their cultural setting.

  • Talking points to the slides and/or PowerPoint slide notes
  • Knowledge, Attitudes, Behavior, Pre/post Tests
  • Suggested activities to make the sessions more interactive
  • Tips for self-care
  • Case Studies

* 10 US Affiliated Pacific Island Jurisdictions:  Territories of American Samoa and Guam; Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas Islands,  Republic of Palau (Belau); Federated States of Micronesia (Yap, Chuuk, Pohnpei, Kosrae); Republic of the Marshall Islands

The area covered is far greater in size that the Continental United States, which is superimposed on the map for perspective. There are less than 500,000 people living in the USAPI on many small islands separated by long distances and some accessible only boat. At  least 10 different languages are spoken.