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

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 co...

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Main Authors: Emma G. Khoury, Thitikorn Nuamek, Sophie Heritage, Taylor Fulton-Ward, Joanna Kucharczak, Cassandra Ng, Tania Kalsi, Fabio Gomes, Michael J. Lind, Nicolò M. L. Battisti, Kwok-Leung Cheung, Ruth Parks, Jessica Pearce, Mark A. Baxter
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2023-09-01
Series:Cancers
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6694/15/19/4782
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author Emma G. Khoury
Thitikorn Nuamek
Sophie Heritage
Taylor Fulton-Ward
Joanna Kucharczak
Cassandra Ng
Tania Kalsi
Fabio Gomes
Michael J. Lind
Nicolò M. L. Battisti
Kwok-Leung Cheung
Ruth Parks
Jessica Pearce
Mark A. Baxter
author_facet Emma G. Khoury
Thitikorn Nuamek
Sophie Heritage
Taylor Fulton-Ward
Joanna Kucharczak
Cassandra Ng
Tania Kalsi
Fabio Gomes
Michael J. Lind
Nicolò M. L. Battisti
Kwok-Leung Cheung
Ruth Parks
Jessica Pearce
Mark A. Baxter
author_sort Emma G. Khoury
collection DOAJ
description 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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spelling doaj.art-adf1a18c93ad49e6a8940d9c0bfbbc9c2023-11-19T14:10:29ZengMDPI AGCancers2072-66942023-09-011519478210.3390/cancers15194782Geriatric 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 GroupEmma G. Khoury0Thitikorn Nuamek1Sophie Heritage2Taylor Fulton-Ward3Joanna Kucharczak4Cassandra Ng5Tania Kalsi6Fabio Gomes7Michael J. Lind8Nicolò M. L. Battisti9Kwok-Leung Cheung10Ruth Parks11Jessica Pearce12Mark A. Baxter13Academic Cancer Sciences Unit, University of Southampton, Southampton SO16 6YD, UKMedical Oncology, The Christie NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester M20 4BX, UKCambridge University Hospitals, Cambridge CB2 0QQ, UKInstitute of Immunology and Immunotherapy, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2TT, UKSchool of Clinical Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 OSP, UKWythenshawe Hospital, Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester M23 9LT, UKDepartment of Ageing of Health, Guy’s Hospital, Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust, London SE1 7EH, UKMedical Oncology, The Christie NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester M20 4BX, UKQueens Centre for Oncology and Haematology, Hull and East Yorkshire NHS Trust, Hull HU16 5JQ, UKBreast Unit, Department of Medicine, The Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, London SW3 6JJ, UKSchool of Medicine, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2UH, UKSchool of Medicine, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2UH, UKLeeds Institute of Medical Research at St James’, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, UKDivision of Molecular and Clinical Medicine, Ninewells Hospital and Medical School, University of Dundee, Dundee DD2 1SY, UKCancer 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.https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6694/15/19/4782geriatric oncologymedical educationundergraduatepostgraduateworkforce planning
spellingShingle Emma G. Khoury
Thitikorn Nuamek
Sophie Heritage
Taylor Fulton-Ward
Joanna Kucharczak
Cassandra Ng
Tania Kalsi
Fabio Gomes
Michael J. Lind
Nicolò M. L. Battisti
Kwok-Leung Cheung
Ruth Parks
Jessica Pearce
Mark A. Baxter
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
geriatric oncology
medical education
undergraduate
postgraduate
workforce planning
title 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
title_full 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
title_fullStr 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
title_full_unstemmed 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
title_short 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
title_sort 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
topic geriatric oncology
medical education
undergraduate
postgraduate
workforce planning
url https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6694/15/19/4782
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