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Evaluation of diagnostic and treatment approaches towards acute dyspnea in a palliative care setting among medical students at the University of Vienna

Evaluierung von diagnostischen und therapeutischen Ansätzen von Studenten der Medizinischen Universität Wien bei Patienten mit fortgeschrittener Dyspnoe

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Zusammenfassung

GRUNDLAGEN: Bei Patienten mit fortgeschrittener Krebserkrankung ist Dyspnoe eines der häufigsten Symptome. Opioide zählen mit zur Standardtherapie. ZIEL: Ziel der Studie war, den Wissenstand von Studenten im 8. Semester über Diagnose und Therapiemaßnahmen von Dyspnoe zu evaluieren. METHODIK: Ein Fallbericht eines Patienten mit akuter Dyspnoe bei fortgeschrittenem Bronchialkarzinom wurde an Studenten verteilt mit der Bitte, diagnostische und therapeutische Optionen nach einem Rankingsystem anzugeben. ERGEBNISSE: 633 Medizinstudenten erhielten einen Fallbericht, dieser wurde von 423 vollständig ausgefüllt. Die häufigste diagnostische Maßnahme war die Messung der Sauerstoffsättigung mittels Pulsoxymeter (n = 388), gefolgt von Auskultation (n = 339). Die häufigste Behandlungsoption für Studenten war die Verabreichung von Sauerstoff (n = 393). Immerhin 138 Studenten schlugen die Verabreichung von Opioiden vor. SCHLUSSFOLGERUNGEN: Obwohl die Studenten über wenig praktische Erfahrung verfügten, schlugen 32,6% eine Behandlung mit Opioiden vor.

Summary

BACKGROUND: Dyspnea is common in advanced cancer patients with opioids as first line treatment. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the level of knowledge about diagnosis and treatment of dyspnea in palliative care patients among 4th year students. METHODS: A case report was distributed to the students describing acute dyspnea in a lung cancer patient. Students were asked to rank their diagnosis and treatment options by importance. RESULTS: 633 medical students in their 4th year attended a seminar about palliative care. Of these, 423 (77%) completed the case report. The most frequent diagnostic option was measuring patient's oxygen saturation (n = 388), followed by auscultation (n = 339). As treatment options, students chose the delivery of oxygen (n = 393) as most important. The application of opioids was suggested by a total of 138 students. CONCLUSION: Although students did not have practical skills in treating advanced cancer patients with acute dyspnea, 32.6% would suggest an opioid as treatment option.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Internal Medicine, Hospital Krems, Krems, Austria

    Gudrun Pohl

  2. Division of Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine I, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria

    Christine Marosi & Katarzyna Elandt

  3. Department of Radiotherapy and Radiobiology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria

    Karin Dieckmann & Gregor Goldner

  4. Division of Palliative Care, Department of Internal Medicine I, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria

    Marco Hassler & Herbert Watzke

  5. Center for Medical Statistics, Informatics, and Intelligent Systems Section for Clinical Biometrics, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria

    Michael Schemper

  6. Department of Palliative Medicine, University Medical Centre, Göttingen, Germany

    Friedemann Nauck

  7. Center for Hematology and Oncology, Wilhelminenspital, Vienna, Austria

    Kathrin Strasser-Weippl

  8. Center for Palliative Care, Universitätsklinikum Köln, Köln, Germany

    Jan Gaertner

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  1. Gudrun Pohl
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  2. Christine Marosi
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  3. Karin Dieckmann
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  6. Marco Hassler
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  8. Kathrin Strasser-Weippl
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  9. Friedemann Nauck
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  11. Herbert Watzke
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Correspondence to Gudrun Pohl.

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Pohl, G., Marosi, C., Dieckmann, K. et al. Evaluation of diagnostic and treatment approaches towards acute dyspnea in a palliative care setting among medical students at the University of Vienna. Wien Med Wochenschr 162, 18–28 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10354-011-0046-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10354-011-0046-z

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