Palliative care in nutrition education

analysis of the curriculum matrices of undergraduate programs in Rio Grande do Sul

Abstract

Aim: To analyze the presence of content related to Palliative Care in the curricula of undergraduate Nutrition programs offered in-person in the state of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. Method: A cross-sectional, documentary, and descriptive study. Data collection was conducted in August 2025 through the e-MEC website, identifying active, in-person undergraduate Nutrition programs in Rio Grande do Sul. After this selection, the official websites of the institutions were consulted to obtain curricular matrices and course syllabi. Programs whose curricula were not publicly available were excluded. Direct contact was made with institutions when information was not available on institutional websites. Results: A total of 28 undergraduate programs were included, comprising five public and 23 private institutions. Only two of the analyzed syllabi included courses addressing the main topic of “Palliative Care.” Among the analyzed courses, 55% were related (n = 11), such as Gerontology, Hospital Diet Therapy, Nutritional Therapy, and Oncology, addressing the topic indirectly. There was a predominance of mandatory courses (n = 10), offered in person, with a higher concentration in the metropolitan region of Porto Alegre (n = 4), and workloads ranging from 30 to 120 hours. Despite the relevance of the topic, only a limited number of institutions offered specific courses addressing this theme. Conclusion: There is a gap in training in Palliative Care within the state, resulting in less specialized management in the context of increasing chronic diseases and population aging.