Assessment of medical students' knowledge of primary limb sarcomas
Abstract Introduction Typically, oncology is not a structured part of the curriculum in Brazilian medical schools. Furthermore, sarcomas, which are uncommon tumors, are seldom covered in depth. A lack of comprehensive education on sarcomas might result in medical professionals being ill-equipped to...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2024-02-01
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| Series: | BMC Medical Education |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12909-024-05111-z |
| _version_ | 1797274272199081984 |
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| author | Pedro Alcântara Botelho Machado Gabriella Freitas Pereira Bartolomeu Alycia Madureira Handeri Maria Olívia Teixeira Silva Ariel E. Hirsch Ana Paula Drummond-Lage |
| author_facet | Pedro Alcântara Botelho Machado Gabriella Freitas Pereira Bartolomeu Alycia Madureira Handeri Maria Olívia Teixeira Silva Ariel E. Hirsch Ana Paula Drummond-Lage |
| author_sort | Pedro Alcântara Botelho Machado |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Introduction Typically, oncology is not a structured part of the curriculum in Brazilian medical schools. Furthermore, sarcomas, which are uncommon tumors, are seldom covered in depth. A lack of comprehensive education on sarcomas might result in medical professionals being ill-equipped to care for patients with this condition. Objectives To assess medical students' understanding and awareness of sarcomas and the specific principles related to these tumors. Materials and methods A quantitative, cross-sectional study was conducted using a questionnaire, applied to medical students, focusing on the epidemiology, pathophysiology, and treatments of bone and soft tissue sarcomas. In all tests, the significance level adopted was 5%. The SPSS version 25.0 software was used. Results Of the 825 questionnaires distributed, 325 were returned. Educational sessions on sarcomas did not appear to significantly improve the student's knowledge. Only 29.5% of students identified the lack of pain as an indicator of potential malignancy in soft tissue sarcomas, while 73.8% correctly recognized pain as a symptom of bone sarcomas. Limb amputation as the optimal surgical method for patient recovery was incorrectly reported by 39.1% of the sample. Conclusion A great part of the surveyed population does not have adequate knowledge about the basic concepts associated with limb sarcomas. The minority of them are satisfied with the knowledge gained during their medical education about these tumors. Inadequate medical academic training may initially lead to the wrong clinical management of patients with bone and soft tissue tumor lesions. An educational effort is needed to enhance oncology education for medical students, especially concerning sarcomas. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-07T14:56:01Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-fc3d08a526d24ff99c3921cd41914def |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1472-6920 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-07T14:56:01Z |
| publishDate | 2024-02-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Medical Education |
| spelling | doaj.art-fc3d08a526d24ff99c3921cd41914def2024-03-05T19:26:21ZengBMCBMC Medical Education1472-69202024-02-012411810.1186/s12909-024-05111-zAssessment of medical students' knowledge of primary limb sarcomasPedro Alcântara Botelho Machado0Gabriella Freitas Pereira Bartolomeu1Alycia Madureira Handeri2Maria Olívia Teixeira Silva3Ariel E. Hirsch4Ana Paula Drummond-Lage5Post Graduation Department, Faculdade de Ciências Médicas de Minas GeraisSchool of Medicine, Faculdade de Ciências Médicas de Minas GeraisSchool of Medicine, Faculdade de Ciências Médicas de Minas GeraisPost Graduation Department, Faculdade de Ciências Médicas de Minas GeraisBoston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of MedicinePost Graduation Department, Faculdade de Ciências Médicas de Minas GeraisAbstract Introduction Typically, oncology is not a structured part of the curriculum in Brazilian medical schools. Furthermore, sarcomas, which are uncommon tumors, are seldom covered in depth. A lack of comprehensive education on sarcomas might result in medical professionals being ill-equipped to care for patients with this condition. Objectives To assess medical students' understanding and awareness of sarcomas and the specific principles related to these tumors. Materials and methods A quantitative, cross-sectional study was conducted using a questionnaire, applied to medical students, focusing on the epidemiology, pathophysiology, and treatments of bone and soft tissue sarcomas. In all tests, the significance level adopted was 5%. The SPSS version 25.0 software was used. Results Of the 825 questionnaires distributed, 325 were returned. Educational sessions on sarcomas did not appear to significantly improve the student's knowledge. Only 29.5% of students identified the lack of pain as an indicator of potential malignancy in soft tissue sarcomas, while 73.8% correctly recognized pain as a symptom of bone sarcomas. Limb amputation as the optimal surgical method for patient recovery was incorrectly reported by 39.1% of the sample. Conclusion A great part of the surveyed population does not have adequate knowledge about the basic concepts associated with limb sarcomas. The minority of them are satisfied with the knowledge gained during their medical education about these tumors. Inadequate medical academic training may initially lead to the wrong clinical management of patients with bone and soft tissue tumor lesions. An educational effort is needed to enhance oncology education for medical students, especially concerning sarcomas.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12909-024-05111-zSarcomaNeoplasmsMedical educationPublic health |
| spellingShingle | Pedro Alcântara Botelho Machado Gabriella Freitas Pereira Bartolomeu Alycia Madureira Handeri Maria Olívia Teixeira Silva Ariel E. Hirsch Ana Paula Drummond-Lage Assessment of medical students' knowledge of primary limb sarcomas BMC Medical Education Sarcoma Neoplasms Medical education Public health |
| title | Assessment of medical students' knowledge of primary limb sarcomas |
| title_full | Assessment of medical students' knowledge of primary limb sarcomas |
| title_fullStr | Assessment of medical students' knowledge of primary limb sarcomas |
| title_full_unstemmed | Assessment of medical students' knowledge of primary limb sarcomas |
| title_short | Assessment of medical students' knowledge of primary limb sarcomas |
| title_sort | assessment of medical students knowledge of primary limb sarcomas |
| topic | Sarcoma Neoplasms Medical education Public health |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12909-024-05111-z |
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