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Annalisa Saetta: Palliative Care Clerkship Increased Students’ Knowledge and Appreciation for a Holistic Approach

Annalisa Saetta/LinkedIn

Jul 3, 2025, 17:01

Annalisa Saetta: Palliative Care Clerkship Increased Students’ Knowledge and Appreciation for a Holistic Approach

Annalisa Saetta, Consultant (Aiuto) in Medical Oncology, Palliative Care Unit at Humanitas Research Hospital, shared a post on LinkedIn:

“Today I presented the work ‘Importance and impact of palliative care clerkship on medical students’ experience’.

I must thank the medical students who completed their clerkship in palliative care outpatient for participating in the survey.

In the last four years, 20 medical students at our Humanitas University attended a clerkship in oncology palliative care outpatient, randomly assigned.

They filled in a quantitative and qualitative survey investigating previous experience in oncology and/or palliative care, interest in oncology and/or palliative care, self-perceived and actual knowledge in oncology and palliative care, and usefulness of the training, the last three evaluated with a Likert scale 1-5. The survey ended with open questions assessed using qualitative methods.

Most students showed increased interest in palliative care, self-perceived, and actual knowledge of oncology and palliative care after their clerkship. All the students evaluated the training as beneficial in their education.

In the qualitative section of the survey, students expressed appreciation for palliative care’s holistic approach, got excited about the ability to listen actively and communicate clearly and with empathy, and appreciated the importance of the Quality of Life each patient defines. Students affirmed they would use this approach in their future careers.

The holistic approach of palliative care, based on Active Listening and Clear Communication and enhancing the patient’s experience, could represent a changing paradigm in the medical approach at every stage of severe disease and in each medical need. Every medical behavior’s golden goal should put the person at the center. Training medical students in this approach could be helpful regardless of their future field of specialization.

Thanks to Humanitas University for the opportunity to be part of the open faculty, and especially to Professor Silvia Oldani and Professor Licia Montagna for supporting the education of medical students with such a passion.”

Annalisa Saetta: Palliative Care Clerkship Increased Students’ Knowledge and Appreciation for a Holistic Approach