Title:	Analysis of reflective portfolios written by final year clinical students
Principal research question:	A qualitative investigation of final year clinical students’ reflections on meeting patients approaching the end of life,
Background:	Caring for patients approaching the end of life is an important part of the work of junior doctors: in their first year after qualification, it is estimated that an average junior doctor will care for 40 patients who die and a further 120 patients in the last 6 months of life. Past research studies have found that palliative care is a source of considerable stress for many junior doctors: they feel unprepared and unsupported. Little is known about the extent to which medical students can be encouraged to reflect on their future role in caring for the dying, and the degree to which such reflection can prepare students for this challenging and important aspect of their future work.
Methodology description:	In their final year at the University of Cambridge School of Clinical Medicine, medical students submit reflective items as part of their required course-work. Two of these items are written after meeting patients approaching the end of life. The reflective items will be systematically examined to identify:1) Student’s thoughts and feelings prior to the meeting2) The professional issues raised 3) The personal issues raised 4) The implications for future training of medical students
Sample group description:	All final year medical students
Outcome measure description:	–
Project organisation
Start date:	1st April 2009
End date:	31st March 2010
Contact person:	Dr Stephen Barclay
Contact Details:	Primary Care Research Unit Institute of Public Health University Forvie Site, Robinson Way Cambridge Cambs CB2 0SR UK Telephone: (01223) 763082 Fax: 01223 762515 E-mail: sigb2@medschl.cam.ac.uk
References and Publications