PURPOSE

To improve cancer patient management, international recommendations underline the importance of integrating palliative care (PC) into oncology, and education of future oncologists is key to achieving this. In France, no study has evaluated PC training for oncology residents. This study aims to identify educational needs in PC among French oncology residents and to assess the acceptability of changing their medical training.

METHODS

A nationwide, descriptive, mixed-methods study was performed between 2021 and 2023. The first qualitative phase used semi-structured interviews with oncology residents to identify their training needs in PC. The second quantitative phase performed a nationwide online survey among all French oncology residents.

RESULTS

The least trained residents were the least keen to receive training, expressing a reductive definition of PC to the end of life, as well as a non-collaborative and integrated vision between PC and oncology. The questionnaire had a participation rate of 24%; 95% (n = 126) were in favour of modifying their PC training. Of these, 98% (n = 123) were strongly in favour of integrating PC training into the national oncology residency programme, and 91.3% (n = 115) were in favour of practical experience in a PC unit during their residency.

CONCLUSION

This study highlights a need to improve the delivery of PC training both in theory and practice in France. This study corroborates previous reports of inadequate PC training, its heterogeneity, and the benefits to be yielded from improving it. To enable early integrated PC, improving training of oncology residents in PC is an attractive target.