Long-term evaluation of required coursework in palliative and end-of-life care for medical students.

Background: In response to the nationwide need for improved care of patients at end of life, our medical school implemented approximately 20 hours of mandatory coursework on the care of dying patients for all students, with satisfactory completion required for graduation.

Objective: We now report a long-term evaluation of this coursework. DESIGN/SUBJECTS/MEASUREMENTS: A 74-item questionnaire concerning attainment of palliative care and other medical school course objectives, postgraduate practice encounters with patients at end of life, and postgraduate behaviors in palliative care was mailed to all students who graduated from our medical school in 2000, 2001, and 2002.