A requirement of IAHPC Scholars is to present a report after attending the congress, course, or other educational event. The following reports are from those who attended the Latin American Palliative Care Congress in March.
Training is Part of My Mission as a Nurse
Julia Drummond Camargo
Palliative care nurse, Hospital Samaritano
São Paulo, Brazil
I learned that some of the challenges I experience in Brazil are present in other countries as well.
I intend to use the discussions presented at the congress about different educational programs in other countries as a basis for discussions in my country. For example, I was able to identify that the problem of not having enough professional training in my country is a problem that others share.
It is an important mission of mine, as a palliative care nurse, to invest in teaching and training professionals who provide direct care to patients, equipping them with the principles of generalist palliative care and empowering these professionals to provide care using the best practices.
Researchers need resilience
I attended a workshop titled “What Is Not Published Does Not Exist: What you need to know to write and publish an article on palliative care.” As a researcher, it is very important to know how a journal’s editorial process works.
The step-by-step process of a researcher going through the submission process, cheering on the reviewers, returning to the research to sort out the reviewer's suggestions, and sending it again...the waiting, the expectation for publication... It was cool to know that every researcher goes through this—and that you need a lot of resilience.
How It Feels to Present a Poster
Willians Lopez
Coordinador nacional de la Oficina de Cuidados Paliativos, Ministerio de Salud de El Salvador
San Salvador, El Salvador
Presenting a poster at a conference is always a rollercoaster of emotions for me. There's a rush of excitement as I prepare to share my findings, and hope the poster will catch the eye of attendees.
As my presentation draws near, a wave of nerves washes over me. Will I be able to effectively convey the significance of the research? Will I be able to field questions confidently and articulately?
Standing in front of the poster, I feel a mix of pride and vulnerability. It's incredibly rewarding to receive feedback and insights. I became energized by the discussions sparked by my poster, and feel grateful for this opportunity to contribute to the collective knowledge of our field.
By the end of the conference, I'm exhausted but exhilarated. Presentation of our work is a vital part of the research process, driving us to push the boundaries of what we know and inspiring us to strive for excellence in our work.
Posters:
Evolution of Comfort in Nursing Care for Oncological Patients at the End of Life: An Integrative Literature Review
Quality of Care in End-of-Life Care for Patients with Glioblastoma Multiforme
The Relationship between the Characteristics of Healthcare Professionals and Respect for the Autonomy of Cancer Patients at the End of Life
Reaching across Borders to Discuss Bioethics
Vanesa Rocio Orellana
Palliative care and family doctor, Caja Nacional de Salud y ONCOPALIA
La Paz, Boliviz
In Bolivia, there is little scientific evidence on palliative care: for this reason, one of the pillars of palliative medicine must include research. We are currently forming a bioethics team in palliative care with professionals from different countries such as Mexico, Uruguay, El Salvador, Chile, and Bolivia. This group will focus on academic activities, research, and advice.
One of my main takeaways from the congress is the importance of strengthening collaboration between the different national palliative care associations for access to opioid medications and services.
My preferred workshop was on bioethical methodology and its application in the resolution of clinical cases, which was organized by the Bioethics Commission because I am pleased to be part of it and its main importance is the uncertainty that exists among health personnel in the face of bioethical dilemmas that arise.
Raising Awareness Is Key
Jeniffer Baque Hildalgo
Palliative care physician, Hospital de Especialidades de Portoviejo
Portoviejo, Ecuador
One of my main takeaways from this congress is that the development of palliative care in Latin America is still scarce and irregular, so, to achieve the desired growth, it is necessary to continue raising awareness among public policy decision makers at the national level as well as health personnel, international organizations, national NGOs, and communities.
I attended a workshop on complex families and the crisis of care in Latin America where I learned that interdisciplinary care is a fundamental intervention to provide quality palliative care tailored to the needs of patients, family members, and community members. Social support goes beyond the objective (how many actors are involved) to consider what is perceived, and includes the subjective (how useful, satisfactory, and appropriate is the support you receive from health care professionals and the family).
Poster: Health Professionals’ Level of Knowledge about Palliative Care in the Emergency Room of a Cancer Hospital
I Learned How AI Can Make Teaching More Effective
Julio Cesar Rohas Tencio
Physician, Clínica de Control del Dolor y Cuidados Paliativos del Área de Salud Los Santos
San José, Costa Rica
The presentation that really caught my attention was on artificial intelligence, I discovered that AI can analyze large sets of educational data to identify patterns and trends that can help people who also teach, to better understand the progress and needs of their students. This can inform more effective pedagogical decisions. Likewise, AI systems can help in the creation of personalized educational content adapted to the specific needs of students, allowing for more effective and attractive teaching.
In summary, artificial intelligence is transforming teaching by providing tools and resources that improve personalization, feedback, accessibility and efficiency of the educational process. [Spanish]
Una de las conferencias que más me han llamado la atención ha sido la de inteligencia artificial, he descubierto que la IA puede analizar grandes conjuntos de datos educativos para identificar patrones y tendencias que pueden ayudar a las personas que también realizamos docencia, a comprender mejor el progreso y las necesidades de sus estudiantes. Esto puede informar decisiones pedagógicas más efectivas. Así mismo los sistemas de IA pueden ayudar en la creación de contenido educativo personalizado y adaptado a las necesidades específicas de los estudiantes, lo que permite una enseñanza más eficaz y atractiva. En resumen, la inteligencia artificial está transformando la docencia al proporcionar herramientas y recursos que mejoran la personalización, la retroalimentación, la accesibilidad y la eficiencia del proceso educativo.
Remembering the Person at the Core of Our Care
Alexandra Aceituno
Psychologist, Fundación Ammar Ayudando; president, Palliative Care Association of Guatemala
Guatemala, Guatemala
I attended two presentations that were especially meaningful for me: Cultivating Compassion: Core Competence and Visibility of Palliative & Paediatric Care: Humanising for Healing 2022 - 2023, a commitment and proposal.
Something I liked about these presentations was the humanity and the professional diversity that the speakers presented on the topics. We often forget to maintain our focus on the individual in our care. I believe that palliative care is care that should not forget that this—acting with humanity—is integral to our purpose.
Oral presentations: Expanding the Roles of the Psychologist in Relation to Palliative Care. How to Start a Hospice in Latin America (Children and Adults). Self-Care: Playing and Healing.
80 Attended Our Essential Medicines Workshop
Nicolas Dawidowicz
Physician educator, FEMEBA (Federación Médica de la Provincia de Buenos Aires)
Vicente López, Argentina
For me, the three main takeaways from the congress were:
- the use of alpha-2 adrenergics to treat pain and delirium,
- the use of methylene blue oral rinse for oral mucositis, and
- learning about experiences in using ketamine to treat pain.
The City Cancer Challenge experience was useful as it showed implementation programs in different settings.
Workshop: Together with the Commission for Access to Essential Medicines of the ALCP, we presented a six-hour workshop on successful experiences in different countries of Latin America to warrant access to these medicines. Eighty participants were involved in strategic planning, take-home messages, and possible action plans.
Read more
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