Pilot Study Assessing Student Interest in Combined Residency Training Pathways With Radiation Oncology
Purpose: Most medical students have limited exposure to radiation oncology (RO) before deciding which specialty to choose for residency. This may limit the number and diversity of RO applicants. The purpose of this study was to determine students’ views on a combined pathway program of RO with inter...
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2024-05-01
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| Series: | Advances in Radiation Oncology |
| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2452109424000307 |
| _version_ | 1797256368857546752 |
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| author | Malcolm D. Mattes, MD Sanjna U. Patel, BS Idalid Franco, MD, MPH Neha Vapiwala, MD Curtiland Deville, Jr, MD |
| author_facet | Malcolm D. Mattes, MD Sanjna U. Patel, BS Idalid Franco, MD, MPH Neha Vapiwala, MD Curtiland Deville, Jr, MD |
| author_sort | Malcolm D. Mattes, MD |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Purpose: Most medical students have limited exposure to radiation oncology (RO) before deciding which specialty to choose for residency. This may limit the number and diversity of RO applicants. The purpose of this study was to determine students’ views on a combined pathway program of RO with internal medicine (IM), as well as other related medical specialties, as a potential means of overcoming barriers to interest in RO and the early decision point to solo training in a highly specialized field. Methods and Materials: In July to August 2022, all 299 United States student and postgraduate year 1 members of the American Society for Radiation Oncology were sent an electronic survey assessing their views on advantages and disadvantages of a combined IM/RO training pathway, and interest in several options of combined pathway programs. Results: Eighty participants completed the survey (response rate 27%). Thirty-four (43%) were very or extremely interested in IM/RO residency (median Likert-type rating 3, IQR 2-4). The most important potential advantages of an IM/RO pathway included greater flexibility in employment options (n = 51, 64%), enhanced general medical knowledge to facilitate ambitions in other career pathways (n = 46, 58%), improved patient care (n = 43, 54%), and having a pathway for combined hematologic/oncology and RO board certification (n = 46, 58%). In comparison to IM/RO, participants were significantly more interested in a combined RO and hematology/oncology program (median Likert-type rating 5, IQR 5-5, P = .005). Among the subgroup of 26 survey participants who believed it less likely they would apply for RO residency, 18 (69%) thought an IM/RO pathway would increase their interest in RO (median Likert-type rating 4, IQR 3-5). Interest in IM/RO did not differ by gender, race, or ethnicity. Conclusions: Combined training pathways involving RO were viewed positively by survey respondents, and may be particularly appealing to those less committed to a career in RO. Further research will help guide recommendations for the creation of these programs. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-24T22:20:38Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-be2a6df70987450da3467bc13914f185 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2452-1094 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-24T22:20:38Z |
| publishDate | 2024-05-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Advances in Radiation Oncology |
| spelling | doaj.art-be2a6df70987450da3467bc13914f1852024-03-20T06:10:59ZengElsevierAdvances in Radiation Oncology2452-10942024-05-0195101467Pilot Study Assessing Student Interest in Combined Residency Training Pathways With Radiation OncologyMalcolm D. Mattes, MD0Sanjna U. Patel, BS1Idalid Franco, MD, MPH2Neha Vapiwala, MD3Curtiland Deville, Jr, MD4Department of Radiation Oncology, Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey, New Brunswick, New Jersey; Corresponding author: Malcolm D. Mattes, MDRutgers New Jersey Medical School, Newark, New JerseyDepartment of Radiation Oncology, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MassachusettsDepartment of Radiation Oncology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PennsylvaniaDepartment of Radiation Oncology and Molecular Radiation Sciences, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MarylandPurpose: Most medical students have limited exposure to radiation oncology (RO) before deciding which specialty to choose for residency. This may limit the number and diversity of RO applicants. The purpose of this study was to determine students’ views on a combined pathway program of RO with internal medicine (IM), as well as other related medical specialties, as a potential means of overcoming barriers to interest in RO and the early decision point to solo training in a highly specialized field. Methods and Materials: In July to August 2022, all 299 United States student and postgraduate year 1 members of the American Society for Radiation Oncology were sent an electronic survey assessing their views on advantages and disadvantages of a combined IM/RO training pathway, and interest in several options of combined pathway programs. Results: Eighty participants completed the survey (response rate 27%). Thirty-four (43%) were very or extremely interested in IM/RO residency (median Likert-type rating 3, IQR 2-4). The most important potential advantages of an IM/RO pathway included greater flexibility in employment options (n = 51, 64%), enhanced general medical knowledge to facilitate ambitions in other career pathways (n = 46, 58%), improved patient care (n = 43, 54%), and having a pathway for combined hematologic/oncology and RO board certification (n = 46, 58%). In comparison to IM/RO, participants were significantly more interested in a combined RO and hematology/oncology program (median Likert-type rating 5, IQR 5-5, P = .005). Among the subgroup of 26 survey participants who believed it less likely they would apply for RO residency, 18 (69%) thought an IM/RO pathway would increase their interest in RO (median Likert-type rating 4, IQR 3-5). Interest in IM/RO did not differ by gender, race, or ethnicity. Conclusions: Combined training pathways involving RO were viewed positively by survey respondents, and may be particularly appealing to those less committed to a career in RO. Further research will help guide recommendations for the creation of these programs.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2452109424000307 |
| spellingShingle | Malcolm D. Mattes, MD Sanjna U. Patel, BS Idalid Franco, MD, MPH Neha Vapiwala, MD Curtiland Deville, Jr, MD Pilot Study Assessing Student Interest in Combined Residency Training Pathways With Radiation Oncology Advances in Radiation Oncology |
| title | Pilot Study Assessing Student Interest in Combined Residency Training Pathways With Radiation Oncology |
| title_full | Pilot Study Assessing Student Interest in Combined Residency Training Pathways With Radiation Oncology |
| title_fullStr | Pilot Study Assessing Student Interest in Combined Residency Training Pathways With Radiation Oncology |
| title_full_unstemmed | Pilot Study Assessing Student Interest in Combined Residency Training Pathways With Radiation Oncology |
| title_short | Pilot Study Assessing Student Interest in Combined Residency Training Pathways With Radiation Oncology |
| title_sort | pilot study assessing student interest in combined residency training pathways with radiation oncology |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2452109424000307 |
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