The inclusion of a palliative care course for students in the ninth semester of the professional medical career is an important step in teaching in a Latin American country, seeking to bridge the gap between curative medicine that neglects symptom control and quality of life. Allowing students to better understand the disease process and the epidemiological transition that is taking place worldwide and affects all health systems. The students' appreciations are presented regarding little-reviewed aspects such as coping with death, end of life and the patient-family relationship.

Objective: To describe the effects of the 5% lidocaine patch on the symptomatic relief of Peruvian patients with postherpetic neuralgia. Methods: Case series report of adult patients with post-herpetic neuralgia admitted to and treated at the Air Force Central Hospital in Lima. Symptomatic relief was defined as the difference between the specified pain score before and after patch treatment. The pain score was evaluated by the visual analogue scale and the Pain Assessment in Advanced Dementia scale, for patients with dementia. Results: Twenty-two patients with postherpetic neuralgia (mean age 74.4 ± 12.40 years) were recruited, 17 of whom began topical therapy with lidocaine following oral systemic treatment. The main reasons for the decision to change were a persistent pain and the adverse effects of the preceding therapy. A statistically significant decrease in pain symptoms was obser...