Implementation of a medical student led pediatric palliative care module

Pediatric palliative care is an ever-evolving field with nominal education for medical learners, leaving many feeling unprepared for difficult palliative conversations and activities. We aimed to introduce medical students to pediatric palliative care early in their undergraduate medical education, as this demographic is often overlooked. This project aims to discuss the necessity of pediatric palliative care curricula in undergraduate medical education via a descriptive report of a novel educational initiative. A team of medical students produced a 20-minute virtual educational module about pediatric palliative care for medical students. Content and format were student-driven and supported by interdisciplinary faculty. This quasi-experimental study design used pre- and post-video assessments to evaluate comfort level and knowledge acquisition of pediatric palliative care for first- to third-year medical students. Statistical analysis was completed using, using a paired t-test. Email recruitment and module operation co-occurred from April 1, 2024, to July 31, 2024. Eighteen of 39 recruited participants completed all study components. Mean knowledge scores increased from 6.00 ± 1.46 to 6.17 ± 1.42 (out of 7), though this difference was not statistically significant ( p = 0.38). A small, non-significant increase in posttest scores was noted for both participants with and without palliative care experience, with previous exposure showing slightly greater improvement. Approximately 90% of participants reported improved knowledge and confidence in pediatric palliative care, and all participants would recommend the module to other learners. As recent medical school graduates, our medical student-produced initiative helps develop the foundation for future endeavors to provide learners with the necessary skills to deliver adequate care to pediatric palliative care populations.