36 Enabling connections: using project ECHO (Extension of Community Healthcare Outcomes) in palliative care education

Abstract

Results The national survey was completed by 166 students representing 22 UK medical schools. Students reported limited interest, knowledge and exposure to oncology, lack of confidence in skills, and teaching dissatisfaction. Oncology was perceived as a challenging specialty (mean Likert score: 4.5/5±0.7), yet most students estimate receiving only 1-2 weeks of dedicated oncology teaching. The national symposium generated a statically significant increase in students' interest (p=0.0012), knowledge, and confidence in skills surrounding oncology (p<0.0001), improving students' perceived ability to cope with the emotional challenges in this field (p=0.0278). Conclusion Students' unimpressive views towards oncology alongside their teaching dissatisfaction underpin the need to reform current undergraduate oncology curricula. Increasing medical student oncology exposure by proposing outcomebased guidelines and adopting a standardised undergraduate oncology curriculum should be the foremost priority in inspiring future oncologists to ensure excellent cancer patient care.