Training medical students on notifying families about patient deaths
Official title: Confirming And Notifying Death : Blended Learning and Its Evaluation by Medical Students, an Acceptability Study"
Run by University Hospital, Strasbourg, France · NCT06910176 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study looks at how final-year medical students learn to inform families about patient deaths to see what challenges they face and how training can be improved.
Quick facts
| Study type | Observational |
|---|---|
| Ages | 18 Years and up |
| Sex | All |
| Enrollment | 20 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | University Hospital, Strasbourg, France Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Strasbourg) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | October 10, 2024 |
| Main results expected | December 10, 2025 |
| Study ends | December 10, 2025 |
| Registry record updated | September 26, 2025 |
| Trial ID | NCT06910176 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a good fit
Ideal candidates for this study are medical students in their final year at the Faculty of Medicine of Strasbourg who are preparing to enter their internships.
✕Probably not a fit
Patients who have already completed their medical training or those not enrolled at the Faculty of Medicine of Strasbourg will not benefit from this study.
A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.
What this trial studies
This observational study focuses on the experiences of medical students at the Faculty of Medicine of Strasbourg as they learn to notify families about patient deaths. It aims to highlight the challenges faced by these students, including emotional and practical difficulties, due to a lack of training in this sensitive area. By documenting these experiences, the study seeks to improve educational approaches and support for future physicians in handling death notifications. The study involves students who are in their final year and have not yet completed internships in specialized palliative care facilities.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this study could lead to improved training programs for medical students, enhancing their ability to communicate effectively and compassionately with families during difficult times.
How similar studies have gone: While there may be limited studies specifically addressing this training gap, the need for improved communication skills in medical education has been recognized, suggesting potential for success in similar educational interventions.
Who can join: the full rules
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * DFASM3 student, * At the Faculty of Medicine of Strasbourg, France, for the 2023-2024 academic year, * Having taken the national ECOS (thus becoming an intern at the start of the following academic year in November 2024), * Aged 18 years or older, * Not opposed to participating in the study. * Not having completed an internship in specialized palliative care facilities Exclusion Criteria: * Refused to participate in the study. * Not having taken the national ECOS.
Where it's running
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Service de soins Palliatifs - CHU de Strasbourg - France
Strasbourg, France Recruiting
Study contacts
- Study coordinator: Catherine CHEVALIER-LAMOUILLE, MD
- Email: catherine.lamouille@chru-strasbourg.fr
- Phone: 33 3 88 11 65 86
How to take part
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
- Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.