A Review of: “Csikai, E. L., & Jones, B. (Eds.) (2007). Teaching resources for end-of-life and palliative care courses”

Ellen L. Csikai and Barbara Jones have numerous publications, years of service on many professional associations, distinguished clinical experience, and teaching awards that serve to position them as imminently suited to building this comprehensive compendium. They have assembled an excellent resource for academics seeking to prepare highly qualified and knowledgeable social work clinicians interested in oncology, palliative care, and hospice fields of practice. Over 35 contributors—leaders in the social work field, along with the editors—offer up-to-date information that supports crafting exceptional courses in palliative and end-of-life care. The book includes an impressive array of suggested textbooks, assessment tools, self-reflective exercises, suggested evaluation techniques, discussion questions, assignments, and modules for both Bachelor of Social Work and Master of Social Work level education programs. There is an array of concrete end-of-life care curriculum suggestions, comprehensive lifespan content, loss, grief and bereavement information, and specialty course syllabi all directed at enhancing the classroom experience. Mary Sormanti, Taryn Lindhurst, and Bonnie Letinich address chronic and life threatening illness while Mercedes Bern-Klug presents an introduction to nursing homes. Those currently teaching, or practicing, in the areas of pediatric palliative care will also find helpful content. Cheryl Brandsen and Mary Carlsen, for instance, outline in detail social work practice with the dying and their families in five modules that not only address the dying experience but also include content that challenges personal comfort and readiness of the student social worker. Often these specialized areas of social work practice in end-of-life care are omitted and require practitioners to seek out separate resources; the inclusion here is a refreshing and welcome addition to the text. Csikai and Jones also include much needed information about bioethics and end-of-life decision making. Although the target audience is primarily social work, anyone in the area of end-of-life care, palliative care, and hospice can benefit from the vast amount of information provided. The book is easy to use, and organized in such a way that assignments, reflective papers, ideas, and numerous questions for review and incorporation into learning modules are all readily Journal of Social Work in End-of-Life & Palliative Care, 5:105–107, 2009 Copyright # Taylor & Francis Group, LLC ISSN: 1552-4256 print=1552-4264 online DOI: 10.1080/15524250903173934