Integrating Palliative Care into Pediatric Oncology Education: A Critical Curriculum Gap and a Priority for Iran

Hesabi, Amir

doi:10.22034/meb.2026.603935.1148

Integrating Palliative Care into Pediatric Oncology Education: A Critical Curriculum Gap and a Priority for Iran

Document Type : Letter to the Editor

Author

Amir Hesabi

Department of Pediatrics, Clinical Research Development Center of Children’s Hospital, Hormozgan University of Medical Sciences, Bandar Abbas, Iran.

10.22034/meb.2026.603935.1148

Abstract

Advances in diagnostic and therapeutic strategies have substantially improved survival among children with cancer. Nevertheless, children with advanced, relapsed, refractory, or life-limiting disease, along with their families, continue to experience a substantial burden of physical, psychological, social, and spiritual suffering. Pediatric palliative care should begin at the time of diagnosis of a life-threatening illness and be delivered concurrently with disease-directed therapy, rather than being confined to end-of-life care. However, palliative-care education remains limited, unstructured, and inadequately assessed in many pediatric oncology training programs. Drawing on international evidence and the Iranian context, this letter proposes incorporating competency-based education, guided clinical exposure, communication simulation, interprofessional learning, and structured assessment into pediatric oncology curricula.

Keywords

Curriculum

Iran

Medical education

Pediatric oncology

Pediatric palliative care