Key points Forty-seven interviews were conducted to investigate cancer patients' knowledge of morphine. Patient knowledge was found to be poor and there were many misconceptions. Staff correctly predicted areas where further education is needed. The resulting morphine information leaflet is now in use in a hospice and is being audited. Those of us with responsibilty for professional education face the challenge 'to stimulate and motivate colleagues to practise patient-centred medicine in this difficult and demanding field'.
Audit is a valuable method of education.
However, palliative care facilitators in UK general practice have concluded that there are difficulties in developing audit systems for palliative care and that secondary care methods need to be adapted before they can be used in primary care. Furthermore, the main text on the subject does not specifically mention the contribution that GPs can make to audit in this field. Key points Most GPs surveyed were positive about providing palliative care. Attempts to recruit practices to audit the palliative care they provide was largely unsuccessful. The practices who did proceed with the audit learnt useful lessons.