Symptom and Pain Management for a Patient in Palliative Care (5cr)

Objective

Student:
• Is able to plan, implement, and evaluate the symptom and pain management for a patient in palliative care and to guide the patient and their loved ones according to individual needs.
• Understands the concept of total suffering and can apply this knowledge in their work.
• Can select and use appropriate symptom questionnaires and assessment tools in care.
• Knows the principles of safe and effective medical and non-medical treatments for a patient in palliative care.
• Is able to work in a multidisciplinary team to alleviate the patient’s symptoms.
• Understands the process of dying and can apply their expertise in patient care after death, participating the patient's loved ones.

Content

• Mechanisms and treatment of common symptoms (pain, dyspnea, gastrointestinal symptoms, ascites, psychological symptoms, fatigue, cachexia, skin symptoms).
• Pain management for different patient groups, with a focus on pharmacological treatment, especially opioids, and non-pharmacological pain management.
• Pharmacological and non-pharmacological treatment of other symptoms.
• Symptom questionnaires and pain assessment tools.
• Multidisciplinary teamwork.
• Principles of palliative sedation.
• Death and post-mortem care.
• Supporting functional ability and rehabilitation methods in palliative care.
• Different patient groups in palliative and end of life care.