Medical Education Bulletin

Medical Education Bulletin

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

Articles in Press

Document Type : Letter to the Editor

Author
Amir Hesabi
Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Faculty of Medicine, 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 for many children with cancer. Nevertheless, children with advanced, relapsed, refractory, or life-limiting disease and 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 considering the Iranian context, this letter proposes that competency-based education, guided clinical exposure, communication simulation, interprofessional learning, and structured assessment should be incorporated into pediatric oncology curricula.
Keywords
Pediatric oncology
pediatric palliative care
medical education
curriculum
communication skills
Iran
Medical Education Bulletin

Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript
Available Online from 22 September 2026