Chung Anna, Zou Ken, Tucker Grant, Miller Ellis, Reisch Joan, Syed Samira
School of Medicine, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA.
O'Donnell School of Public Health, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA.
J Cancer Educ. 2025 Aug 26. doi: 10.1007/s13187-025-02720-0.
Despite cancer's significant impact on global health and its prevalence in clinical settings, oncology education in medical schools often remains fragmented and unstandardized, leaving many students feeling underprepared to care for patients with cancer. This study evaluates the implementation and impact of a 3-month oncology enrichment elective designed to address these educational gaps. From 2021 to 2024, we offered an oncology enrichment elective to medical students at a single institution. The curriculum included multidisciplinary didactic sessions and facility tours covering various oncology specialties. Data were collected through immediate post-course surveys and a 2025 longitudinal survey to assess both short and long-term impacts on students' oncology exposure and career interests. Students reported high satisfaction with the curriculum and its clinical relevance. The elective significantly enhanced exposure to underrepresented areas in oncology education, particularly radiation oncology and palliative care. Over two-thirds of respondents indicated the elective influenced their residency choice, with a similar proportion expressing interest in oncology careers. Thematic analysis revealed that students valued personalized faculty insights and requested more interactive learning experiences. An oncology enrichment elective effectively addresses gaps in cancer education during medical school, particularly during condensed pre-clerkship curricula. The model demonstrates potential for improving student comfort with oncology concepts and enhancing multidisciplinary understanding of cancer care. Larger longitudinal studies are needed to assess long-term impacts on knowledge retention and career trajectories.
尽管癌症对全球健康有重大影响且在临床环境中普遍存在，但医学院校的肿瘤学教育往往仍然零散且不规范，导致许多学生觉得在照顾癌症患者方面准备不足。本研究评估了一项为期3个月的肿瘤学强化选修课的实施情况及其影响，该选修课旨在填补这些教育空白。从2021年到2024年，我们在一所机构为医学生提供了肿瘤学强化选修课。课程包括多学科的理论课程和涵盖各种肿瘤学专业的设施参观。通过课程结束后的即时调查和2025年的纵向调查收集数据，以评估对学生肿瘤学接触和职业兴趣的短期和长期影响。学生对课程及其临床相关性表示高度满意。该选修课显著增加了学生对肿瘤学教育中代表性不足领域的接触，特别是放射肿瘤学和姑息治疗。超过三分之二的受访者表示该选修课影响了他们的住院医师选择，类似比例的人表示对肿瘤学职业感兴趣。主题分析表明，学生重视教师的个性化见解，并要求提供更多互动式学习体验。一项肿瘤学强化选修课有效地填补了医学院校癌症教育中的空白，特别是在紧凑的临床前课程期间。该模式显示出提高学生对肿瘤学概念的熟悉程度以及增强对癌症护理的多学科理解的潜力。需要进行更大规模的纵向研究来评估对知识保留和职业轨迹的长期影响。
