Medical Student Exposure to Radiation Oncology Through the Pre-clerkship Residency Exploration Program (PREP): Effect on Career Interest and Understanding of Radiation Oncology

Haupt, Thomas Sebastian; Dow, Todd; Smyth, Mike; Toguri, James Thomas; Roberts, Alysha; Raju, Kavita; Bowes, David

doi:10.1007/s13187-019-1477-2

Cited by 12 publications

(10 citation statements)

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“…]. Furthermore, early specialty exposure through academic opportunities and mentorships significantly increases the likelihood of medical students pursuing oncology-related careers [ 6. , 7.…”

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Tele-oncology in the COVID-19 Era: Are Medical Students Left Behind?

Rallis

Allen-Tejerina

2020

Trends in Cancer

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We read, with interest, the recent article by Shirke et al.[1] 'Tele-oncology in the COVID-19 Era: The Way Forward?', describing the benefits and limitations of tele-oncology and its role during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. As medical students experiencing the disruptions caused by COVID-19, this article resonates with us. We appreciate the value of telemedicine in cancer services and agree that tele-oncology offers excellent prospects to help patients with cancer during COVID-19 and in the future. Yet, we are confronted with the fact that there is little mentioned by the authors of the opportunities and challenges associated with integrating telemedicine education and training (ET) in tele-oncology. In response to this statement, here, we set out ways in which telemedicine ET can be integrated in tele-oncology services for medical students. In addition, we discuss challenges of telemedicine ET and propose ways to overcome these.

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confidence: 99%

Tele-oncology in the COVID-19 Era: Are Medical Students Left Behind?

Rallis

Allen-Tejerina

2020

Trends in Cancer

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“…This lack of exposure can lead to medical students completing their undergraduate medical education without ever interacting with an RO service or learning about the crucial role radiotherapy plays in cancer management [5][6][7]. As early clinical exposure and role model identification are factors strongly related to discipline interest in medical students, many students may never have learned about RO as a career option, and training programs may be missing out on recruiting potential candidates [5,[8][9][10].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…To provide medical students experience in non-surgical disciplines that are not highlighted in clerkship, the Pre-clerkship Residency Exploration Program (PREP) was created at Dalhousie University in 2018 [9]. PREP, a two-week rotating elective program open to second-year medical students, was designed to maximize exposure to specialities not encountered in clerkship while increasing mentorship opportunities.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In the context of RO, PREP served to provide medical students with a half-day elective experience and a residency panel discussion featuring a resident in RO. Previous studies associated with PREP have shown that an elective in RO increases students' interest in the specialty and understanding of the general responsibilities of a radiation oncologist [9]. Because these electives are often the only exposure students have to RO, it is critical to better understand why and how elective experiences affect students' perceptions of the field and which information sources students use and value most when forming their perceptions.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…During the students' elective in RO, they were placed at the Queen Elizabeth II Health Science Centre in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Here they received an orientation session to the specialty, a tour of the treatment facility, and clinical experiences in an outpatient clinic working alongside an attending staff Radiation Oncologist and in some cases with an RO resident [9]. All students had previously received one lecture on RO in the second-year medical school curriculum as part of a two-week oncology unit.…”

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The Impact of a Rotating Elective on Medical Students' Perception of Radiation Oncology

MacNevin

Dow

Rafiq

et al. 2020

Cureus

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Background As Radiation Oncology (RO) is a field with limited exposure in undergraduate medical education curricula, the information sources used to form students' perception of the field can have a substantial impact on whether students decide to pursue experiences in RO. Furthermore, the effects of a single elective experience in RO can strongly influence career decisions as it may serve as the only experience for students to gain an understanding of RO as a specialty. This study analyzes which information sources students use and most strongly value when forming their perception of RO both before and after participating in the program, while also analyzing changes in the perception of various speciality-related factors associated with RO. Methods To address underrepresented specialties, the Pre-clerkship Residency Exploration Program (PREP) was developed to provide students exposure to RO and 13 other specialties through half-day clinical rotations, simulations, skills sessions, and panel discussions. A total of 37 participants completed both "Pre-program" and "Post-program" surveys to evaluate which information sources they use and value most when forming their perception of RO, and student perception of career factors associated with RO was assessed. Results Students reported that Pre-program information sources of RO were based on Lectures (35 students, 94.6%) and Preceptors (18 students, 48.7%). Post-program responses indicated that the greatest sources of information used were from Preceptors (36 students, 97.3%) and Residents (34 students, 91.9%), with the greatest increase being found in interactions with Residents for gaining specialty information (78% increase). Students most highly valued Preceptors, Residents, and Lectures as information sources when forming their perception of RO. Pre-program, students had the greatest positive perception of RO with respect to Income Potential (mean: 3.76/5.00 ± 0.87), Intellectual Challenge (mean: 3.90/5.00 ± 0.94), and Research Opportunities (mean: 3.86/5.00 ± 0.83) while most negatively assessing the factors of Flexibility (mean: 2.69/5.00 ± 0.93) and Level of Stress (mean: 2.93/5.00 ± 0.94). Conclusions Student perception of a medical specialty is a factor that may influence student elective choice and career decisions. Through participating in PREP, significant positive increases were found in students' perception of RO in the areas of Flexibility, Patient Population, Competitiveness of 1 1 1 1 2, 3

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Teaching in radiation oncology: now and 2025—results of a focus group with medical students

et al. 2022

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Purpose In Germany, the new Licensing Regulations for Physicians 2025 (Ärztliche Approbationsordnung, ÄApprO) define a binding legal framework on the basis of which medical faculties modernize their curricula. Since 2015, the National Competence Based Learning Objectives Catalogue for Medicine 2.0 (Nationaler Kompetenzbasierter Lernzielkatalog 2.0., NKLM) formulates competencies and learning objectives to be achieved in the course of studies as curriculum orientation for the medical faculties. In addition, about 80% of the areas of a new core curriculum are to be made compulsory. A needs analysis in the target group of students has not yet taken place for the subject of radiation therapy (RT) or radiation oncology (RO). This study therefore surveys the experiences and requirements of students regarding medical education in RT. Methods Qualitative single-center study using a semistructured in-depth focus group with 11 medical students (20–26 years; 6 female, 5 male) was conducted. Brainstorming sessions were conducted in small groups and individually; oral contributions were recorded, transcribed, and analyzed using qualitative content analysis according to Mayring. Results were compared with the content of the future curriculum and reviewed for congruence with current expert recommendations of the German Society of Radiation Oncology (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Radioonkologie, DEGRO). Results The plans to develop a longitudinal and practice-oriented curriculum was positively received by students. Specifically, students wanted to introduce the basics of RT as an early link to practice in preclinical teaching units. The necessary acquisition of communicative skills should also be taught by lecturers in RO. Methodologically, regular digital survey tools for self-monitoring, discussion rooms, and problem-based learning were named. In the perception of students, the subject appears underrepresented in relation to its relevance in the multimodal therapy of oncological diseases. Conclusion Results of the needs analysis for the subject of RT are consistent with ÄApprO, NKLM, and DEGRO. Moreover, they complement them and should be considered in the curriculum development of Masterplan Medical Education 2020 (Masterplan Medizinstudium 2020). The results contribute to high-quality and target-group-oriented medical training in the subject of RT, increased visibility, and thus early bonding of future physicians to RO in Germany.

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Medical Student Exposure to Radiation Oncology Through the Pre-clerkship Residency Exploration Program (PREP): Effect on Career Interest and Understanding of Radiation Oncology

Cited by 12 publications

References 14 publications

Tele-oncology in the COVID-19 Era: Are Medical Students Left Behind?

Tele-oncology in the COVID-19 Era: Are Medical Students Left Behind?

The Impact of a Rotating Elective on Medical Students' Perception of Radiation Oncology

Teaching in radiation oncology: now and 2025—results of a focus group with medical students

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