Providing Pain and Palliative Care Education Internationally

For many clinicians in oncology, educating other health-care professionals about cancer pain and palliative care is part of their professional life. The need for education exists across clinical settings around the world. Improved education is an urgent need as the prevalence of cancer is increasing. This burden is largely carried by the developing world, where resources are often limited.^[1] Global educational efforts, including managing common symptoms, communication, care at the time of death, grief, and other topics, are imperative to reduce pain and suffering.^[2] International training efforts require additional expertise and preparation beyond the standard teaching skills needed for all professional education.

The goal of international training efforts in pain and palliative care is to provide useful, culturally relevant programs while empowering participants to sustain these efforts in the long term. Global efforts in palliative care have demonstrated that sharing educational materials, resources, support and encouragement with our international colleagues can provide mentorship to go beyond simply attending a course to developing and expanding their own programs of palliative care in oncology.^{[3] and [4]} To do this well, the following provides specific suggestions for before, during, and after international palliative care training experiences.

Do Your Homework

Before a course, it is essential to learn as much as possible about the region, the culture(s), and the health-care system. Several resources for this information are listed in Table 1. Additionally, speaking with colleagues who have traveled to the country or to those who have emigrated from the country can provide valuable insight. These individuals can provide a wealth of information to assist in developing an appropriate curriculum and specific presentations. As demographics vary, it is important to know the common cancers and other leading causes of death in the region. Issues that may be seen as “competing” issues HIV/AIDS, malaria, immunizations, lack of clean water, or maternal–infant mortality.^{[5] and [6]} Literature, including fiction and nonfiction, as well as movies and other media, can enlighten the traveler regarding life in the region. Local consulates offer opportunities for learning, as do organizations such as the Council on Global Relations. There are rapid changes in global politics, health-care systems, and governments, so it is also vital to have current information.