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Ali N, Dhere TA, Bates JE, Lorenz JW, Janopaul-Naylor JR, Schlafstein AJ, Patel PR, Lin JY. Integration of Radiation Oncology Into the Preclinical Curriculum Through Problem-Based Learning. Pract Radiat Oncol 2024; 14:e1-e8. [PMID: 37802397 DOI: 10.1016/j.prro.2023.08.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2023] [Revised: 08/06/2023] [Accepted: 08/07/2023] [Indexed: 10/10/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE Early exposure to oncology care during the preclinical years of medical school may translate to increased student interest in oncology-related fields and improved understanding of oncologic treatment modalities, including radiation oncology. Many schools incorporate problem-based learning (PBL) into the medical school curriculum; this is an opportunity to immerse students in oncologic case management. We describe the effective incorporation of one course into the medical school curriculum that may be replicated at other institutions. METHODS AND MATERIALS A PBL case regarding pancreatic cancer was created by a radiation oncology resident and faculty member in collaboration with the gastrointestinal course director for first-year medical students at a single institution. Pancreatic cancer was chosen based on curricular needs. Learning objectives were discussed to guide the creation of the case. RESULTS All 140 first-year medical students participated in the 1-hour small group case focused on oncologic work up, multidisciplinary care, and radiation therapy concepts. Students were provided with a case prompt and resources to review prior to the PBL session. Volunteer radiation oncology facilitators attended a 30-minute educational meeting and were provided a detailed case guide 1 week before the PBL session. During the PBL case, facilitators guided students to achieve desired learning objectives. Among the 76 (54%) medical students who completed an optional post-PBL survey, the majority reported that the case motivated them to learn more about oncology (89%) and radiation oncology (82%). There was an increase in the number of subscribers to the Oncology Interest Group (43% increase from previous year) and preclinical students shadowing in the radiation oncology department. The PBL case was continued in future years for all first-year students and extended to 2 hours to promote additional discussion in response to student and facilitator feedback. CONCLUSIONS A cancer-specific PBL case facilitated by radiation oncology educators is an effective avenue to integrate radiation oncology into the preclinical curriculum and stimulate interest in oncology among first-year medical students.
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Affiliation(s)
- Naba Ali
- Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia.
| | - Tanvi A Dhere
- Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - James E Bates
- Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Joshua W Lorenz
- Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia
| | | | | | - Pretesh R Patel
- Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Jolinta Y Lin
- Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia
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Janopaul-Naylor JR, Rupji M, Tobillo RA, Lorenz JW, Switchenko JM, Tian S, Kaka AS, Qian DC, Schlafstein AJ, Steuer CE, Remick JS, Rudra S, McDonald MW, Saba NF, Stokes WA, Patel MR, Bates JE. Ninety-day mortality following transoral robotic surgery or radiation at Commission on Cancer-accredited facilities. Head Neck 2023; 45:658-663. [PMID: 36549012 PMCID: PMC9898134 DOI: 10.1002/hed.27282] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2022] [Revised: 11/29/2022] [Accepted: 12/05/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Postoperative mortality for oropharynx squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC) with transoral robotic surgery (TORS) varies from 0.2% to 6.5% on trials; the real-world rate is unknown. METHODS NCDB study from 2010 to 2017 for patients with cT1-2N0-2M0 OPSCC with Charleson-Deyo score 0-1. Ninety-day mortality assessed from start and end of treatment at Commission on Cancer-accredited facilities. RESULTS 3639 patients were treated with TORS and 1937 with radiotherapy. TORS cohort had more women and higher income, was younger, more often treated at academic centers, and more likely to have private insurance (all p < 0.05). Ninety-day mortality was 1.3% with TORS and 0.7% or 1.4% from start or end of radiotherapy, respectively. From end of therapy, there was no significant difference on MVA between treatment modality. CONCLUSIONS There is minimal difference between 90-day mortality in patients treated with TORS or radiotherapy for early-stage OPSCC. While overall rates are low, for patients with expectation of cure, work is needed to identify optimal treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- James R. Janopaul-Naylor
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Winship Cancer Institute at Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Manali Rupji
- Biostatistics Shared Resource, Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Rachel A. Tobillo
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Winship Cancer Institute at Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Joshua W. Lorenz
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Winship Cancer Institute at Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Jeffrey M. Switchenko
- Biostatistics Shared Resource, Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
- Department of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, Rollins School of Public Health at Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Sibo Tian
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Winship Cancer Institute at Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Azeem S. Kaka
- Department of Otolaryngology, Winship Cancer Institute at Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - David C. Qian
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Winship Cancer Institute at Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Ashley J. Schlafstein
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Winship Cancer Institute at Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Conor E. Steuer
- Department of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Winship Cancer Institute at Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Jill S. Remick
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Winship Cancer Institute at Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Soumon Rudra
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Winship Cancer Institute at Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Mark W. McDonald
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Winship Cancer Institute at Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Nabil F. Saba
- Department of Otolaryngology, Winship Cancer Institute at Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
- Department of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Winship Cancer Institute at Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - William A. Stokes
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Winship Cancer Institute at Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Mihir R. Patel
- Department of Otolaryngology, Winship Cancer Institute at Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - James E. Bates
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Winship Cancer Institute at Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
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Schlafstein AJ, Goyal S, Amini A, Karam SD, Saba NF, Kaka AS, Aiken AH, Beitler JJ, Stokes WA. The impact of operability status on outcomes in patients with T4 larynx cancer undergoing larynx preservation. Head Neck 2022; 44:2854-2864. [PMID: 36196859 DOI: 10.1002/hed.27204] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2022] [Revised: 08/18/2022] [Accepted: 09/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Large analyses of T4 larynx cancer (LC) have raised concerns that larynx preservation (LP) contributes to reduced survival compared with laryngectomy (LGX). The role of operability has not been previously considered as a confounder. METHODS We queried the National Cancer Database for T4M0 LC diagnosed 2004-2015. Patients were categorized as undergoing LGX, chemoradiotherapy but operable (LP-operable), and chemoradiotherapy inoperable (LP-inoperable). Overall survival (OS) was estimated by Kaplan-Meier. Cox multivariate analysis (MVA) identified variables associated with OS. RESULTS We identified 1405 LGX, 164 LP-operable and 1969 LP-inoperable patients. Compared with LGX, MVA demonstrated worse OS among LP-inoperable (HR 1.28 95%CI 1.17-1.40, p < 0.01) but not LP-operable patients (HR 1.12 95%CI 0.91-1.39, p = 0.28). CONCLUSIONS LP-operable patients did not have significantly worse OS than those undergoing LGX.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ashley J Schlafstein
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Winship Cancer Institute, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Subir Goyal
- Biostatistics Shared Resource, Winship Cancer Institute, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Arya Amini
- Department of Radiation Oncology, City of Hope Comprehensive Cancer Center, Duarte, California, USA
| | - Sana D Karam
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Colorado school of Medicine, Aurora, Colorado, USA
| | - Nabil F Saba
- Department of Medical Oncology, Winship Cancer Institute, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Azeem S Kaka
- Department of Otolaryngology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Ashley H Aiken
- Department of Radiology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | | | - William A Stokes
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Winship Cancer Institute, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
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Ali N, Dhere TA, Lorenz JW, Janopaul-Naylor JR, Schlafstein AJ, Patel PR, Lin JY. Problem-Based Learning Curriculum as a Tool to Increase Medical Student Exposure to Radiation Oncology. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ijrobp.2022.06.028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
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