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Khoury EG, Nuamek T, Heritage S, Fulton-Ward T, Kucharczak J, Ng C, Kalsi T, Gomes F, Lind MJ, Battisti NML, Cheung KL, Parks R, Pearce J, Baxter MA. Geriatric Oncology as an Unmet Workforce Training Need in the United Kingdom-A Narrative Review by the British Oncology Network for Undergraduate Societies (BONUS) and the International Society of Geriatric Oncology (SIOG) UK Country Group. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:4782. [PMID: 37835476 PMCID: PMC10571920 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15194782] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2023] [Revised: 09/20/2023] [Accepted: 09/22/2023] [Indexed: 10/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Cancer is a disease associated with ageing. Managing cancer in older adults may prove challenging owing to pre-existing frailty, comorbidity, and wider holistic needs, as well as the unclear benefits and harms of standard treatment options. With the ongoing advances in oncology and the increasing complexity of treating older adults with cancer, the geriatric oncology field must be a priority for healthcare systems in education, research, and clinical practice. However, geriatric oncology is currently not formally taught in undergraduate education or postgraduate training programmes in the United Kingdom (UK). In this commentary, we outline the landscape of geriatric oncology undergraduate education and postgraduate training for UK doctors. We highlight current challenges and opportunities and provide practical recommendations for better preparing the medical workforce to meet the needs of the growing population of older adults with cancer. This includes key outcomes to be considered for inclusion within undergraduate and postgraduate curricula.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emma G. Khoury
- Academic Cancer Sciences Unit, University of Southampton, Southampton SO16 6YD, UK
| | - Thitikorn Nuamek
- Medical Oncology, The Christie NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester M20 4BX, UK; (T.N.)
| | | | - Taylor Fulton-Ward
- Institute of Immunology and Immunotherapy, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2TT, UK
| | - Joanna Kucharczak
- School of Clinical Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 OSP, UK
| | - Cassandra Ng
- Wythenshawe Hospital, Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester M23 9LT, UK
| | - Tania Kalsi
- Department of Ageing of Health, Guy’s Hospital, Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust, London SE1 7EH, UK
- School of Life Course and Population Sciences, King’s College London, London WC2R 2LS, UK
| | - Fabio Gomes
- Medical Oncology, The Christie NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester M20 4BX, UK; (T.N.)
| | - Michael J. Lind
- Queens Centre for Oncology and Haematology, Hull and East Yorkshire NHS Trust, Hull HU16 5JQ, UK
- Cancer Research Group, Hull York Medical School, University of Hull, Hull HU6 7RX, UK
| | - Nicolò M. L. Battisti
- Breast Unit, Department of Medicine, The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, London SW3 6JJ, UK
| | - Kwok-Leung Cheung
- School of Medicine, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2UH, UK
| | - Ruth Parks
- School of Medicine, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2UH, UK
| | - Jessica Pearce
- Leeds Institute of Medical Research at St James’, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, UK
| | - Mark A. Baxter
- Division of Molecular and Clinical Medicine, Ninewells Hospital and Medical School, University of Dundee, Dundee DD2 1SY, UK
- Tayside Cancer Centre, Ninewells Hospital and Medical School, NHS Tayside, Dundee DD2 1SG, UK
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Jeans EB, Brower JV, Burmeister JW, Deville C, Fields E, Kavanagh BD, Suh JH, Tekian A, Vapiwala N, Zeman EM, Golden DW. Development of a United States Radiation Oncology Curricular Framework: A Stakeholder Delphi Consensus. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys 2023; 115:1030-1040. [PMID: 36549345 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijrobp.2022.12.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2022] [Revised: 11/09/2022] [Accepted: 12/04/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE A United States (US) radiation oncology curriculum, developed using best practices for curriculum inquiry, is needed to guide residency education and qualifying examinations. Competency-based training, including entrustable professional activities (EPAs), provides an outcomes-based approach to modern graduate medical education. This study aimed to define US radiation oncology EPAs and curricular content domains using a deliberative process with input from multiple stakeholder groups. METHODS AND MATERIALS The Radiation Oncology Education Collaborative Study Group Core Curriculum Project Leadership Committee developed initial content domains and EPAs. Following recruitment of stakeholders, a Delphi process was used to achieve consensus. In the first round, content domains and EPAs were reviewed for inclusion and exclusion, clarity, time allocation (content domains), and level of training (EPAs). Participants submitted additional content domains and EPAs for consideration. Any content domains or EPAs 1 standard deviation below the median for inclusion and exclusion underwent Leadership Committee review. All participants completing the first Delphi round were invited to the second round. Percent curriculum time allocated for content domains and a single subdomain were finalized. New EPAs or EPAs undergoing major revisions were reviewed. RESULTS A total of 186 participants representing diverse stakeholder groups participated. One hundred fourteen completed the first Delphi round (61.3%). Of 114 invited, 77 participants completed the second round of the Delphi process (67.5%). Overall, 6 of 9 content domains met consensus, 1 content domain was removed, and 2 content domains were combined. Four subdomains of a single content domain were reviewed and met consensus. Consensus on percent time allocated per content domain and subdomain was reached. Of 55 initial EPAs, 52 final EPAs met consensus. CONCLUSIONS Deliberative curriculum inquiry was successfully used to develop a consensus on US radiation oncology content domains and EPAs. These data can guide the allocation of educational time in training programs, help inform weighting for qualifying examinations, and help guide clinical training and resident assessment.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Jay W Burmeister
- Department of Oncology, Wayne State University/Karmanos Cancer Center, Detroit, Michigan
| | - Curtiland Deville
- Department of Radiation Oncology and Molecular Radiation Sciences, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Emma Fields
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia
| | - Brian D Kavanagh
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Colorado, Aurora, Colorado
| | - John H Suh
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio
| | - Ara Tekian
- Department of Medical Education, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois
| | - Neha Vapiwala
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Elaine M Zeman
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
| | - Daniel W Golden
- Department of Radiation and Cellular Oncology, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois.
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Morris L, O'Donovan A, Hashmi A, Agar M. Older adults and the unique role of the radiation therapist: Future directions for improving geriatric oncology training and education. Tech Innov Patient Support Radiat Oncol 2022; 23:21-26. [PMID: 36059564 PMCID: PMC9434163 DOI: 10.1016/j.tipsro.2022.08.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2022] [Revised: 08/01/2022] [Accepted: 08/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
This article reviews the status quo of the available evidence and guidance for geriatric oncology clinical practice, training and education for radiation therapists worldwide. We explore the unique clinical role that radiation therapists play in the management of older adults undergoing radiation therapy. We define multiple clinical care points in which the radiation therapists role could potentially expand or specialise into geriatric screening, assessment and intervention to optimise the care of older adults. Current GO educational offerings and future directions to improve RTT knowledge and skills around caring for older adults are outlined.
There is widespread recognition that the provision of high quality, appropriate and equitable care to older adults with cancer is a growing challenge in oncology practice. Radiation therapy (RT) is an effective and localised treatment that represents an attractive curative or palliative option for many older adults, and radiation therapists (RTT) play an important role in the delivery, support and quality of care for people during RT. The need to develop an evidence-based, global approach to improving all radiation oncology (RO) professionals’ knowledge and clinical practice in geriatric oncology (GO) has been previously identified. This article specifically focusses on the status quo of GO clinical practice and education for RTT worldwide. We explore the unique clinical role that RTT play in the management of older adults with cancer and define multiple clinical care points in which RTT could potentially participate in geriatric screening, geriatric assessment and intervention to optimise the care of older adults, with a focus on dementia. Directions for future efforts to improve the knowledge and clinical skills of RTT in caring for older adults are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucinda Morris
- University of Technology Sydney (UTS), Faculty of Health, Improving Palliative, Aged and Chronic Care through Clinical Research and Translation (IMPACCT), Ultimo, NSW, Australia
- St George Cancer Care Centre, St George Hospital, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- Corresponding author at: University of Technology Sydney (UTS), Faculty of Health, Improving Palliative, Aged and Chronic Care through Clinical Research and Translation (IMPACCT), Ultimo, NSW, Australia.
| | - Anita O'Donovan
- Applied Radiation Therapy Trinity (ARTT), Discipline of Radiation Therapy, School of Medicine, Trinity St. James’s Cancer Institute, Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Amira Hashmi
- Radiotherapy Department, The Christie NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester, UK
| | - Meera Agar
- University of Technology Sydney (UTS), Faculty of Health, Improving Palliative, Aged and Chronic Care through Clinical Research and Translation (IMPACCT), Ultimo, NSW, Australia
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David V, Hsu T, Mithoowani S, Fraser G, Mian H. What do hematology residents know about caring for older adults with cancer? A National Survey of Canadian hematology residents' knowledge and interests. J Geriatr Oncol 2022; 13:1236-1240. [PMID: 36050270 DOI: 10.1016/j.jgo.2022.08.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2022] [Revised: 08/17/2022] [Accepted: 08/24/2022] [Indexed: 10/15/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION As the Canadian population ages, older adults comprise an increasing proportion of those diagnosed and treated for hematologic malignancies. A geriatric oncology curriculum has been recognized as a top priority in the care of older patients with cancer. It is not clear, however, whether hematology trainees receive training in geriatric oncology. We sought to understand residents' views and needs for a geriatric oncology curriculum during hematology residency in Canada. MATERIALS AND METHODS We conducted a cross-sectional needs assessment of hematology trainees enrolled in a Canadian residency or advanced fellowship training program within hematology. The survey, which was piloted with three non-hematology residents to ensure user-friendliness, used a combination of Likert scale, multiple-choice, and open-ended questions. The survey comprised three sections: (1) demographic data, (2) current state of geriatric oncology training (amount, content) and (3) attitudes towards learning about geriatric oncology and preferred curriculum components and identified needs. The survey was administered by the study team and distributed electronically to program directors in June 2020. The program directors were asked to forward the survey to trainees registered within their Division of Hematology. Data were analyzed descriptively. RESULTS Twenty-nine hematology residents participated (41.4% estimated response rate). Most respondents had not received geriatric oncology teaching (58.6%, n = 17) and have never been taught about geriatric oncology assessment tools (72.4%, n = 21) during hematology residency. Most respondents felt that their program should deliver a geriatric oncology curriculum (96.6%, n = 28). Respondents were most interested in learning about use of geriatric assessment tools for pre-treatment chemotherapy decision-making (86.2%, n = 25), prediction of chemotherapy toxicity (82.8%, n = 24), and to facilitate conversations regarding treatment initiation, continuation, or termination (79.3%, n = 23). DISCUSSION Our study highlights the paucity of geriatric oncology training in hematology residency training programs. Our results highlight both the need and interest for a future dedicated geriatric oncology curriculum integrated into hematology training and provide guidance about which topics are most valued by trainees.
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Affiliation(s)
- Victoria David
- Department of Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.
| | - Tina Hsu
- Division of Medical Oncology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Siraj Mithoowani
- Department of Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
| | - Graeme Fraser
- Department of Oncology, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
| | - Hira Mian
- Department of Oncology, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
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