2386 - Utility of a Radiation Oncology Didactic Lecture for Internal Medicine Trainees: A Single Institution Pilot Study
Presenter(s)
S. C. S. To1, Z. Liu2, J. Chovatiya3, W. J. Lin3, W. H. Hou4, and K. Cheng4; 1St Joseph's Medical Center, Stockton, CA, 2UCLA Fielding School of Public Health, Los Angeles, CA, 3University of California, Riverside School of Medicine, Riverside, CA, 4City of Hope, San Bernardino, CA
Purpose/Objective(s): Radiation oncology is often included in the multidisciplinary approach to oncologic treatments. However, radiation oncology is rarely integrated into medical education and training, often leading to a limited understanding of the specialty among non-radiation oncologists. Addressing this gap in awareness is especially important in the inpatient setting, where urgent or emergent indications for radiation therapy may require an expedited evaluation by a radiation oncologist. Here, we aim to evaluate whether a didactic lecture in radiation oncology can improve perceived comfort levels with identifying indications for radiation therapy and placing appropriate radiation oncology consults for internal medicine trainees at a single institution.
Materials/Methods: In this initial pilot study, a radiation oncology-focused lecture was given to internal medicine trainees at a single institution. Participants completed a pre-lecture survey to assess their prior exposure to radiation oncology and a post-lecture survey to assess the effectiveness and relevance of the lecture. In the pre- and post-lecture surveys, 5-point Likert items (1 = strongly disagree, 5 = strongly agree) were used to assess participants’ perceived comfort levels with understanding radiation oncology workflow and identifying and placing appropriate radiation oncology consults, with higher scores corresponding to higher levels of comfort. Paired t-tests were used to compare the mean differences between reported paired data.
Results: A total of 18 participants completed the pre- and post-lecture surveys. 17 (94.4%) had never had a radiation oncology lecture or rotation prior to the lecture. 11 participants (61.1%) had never placed a radiation oncology consult, with 6 (33.3%) and 1 (5.6%) having placed 1-3 and 4-6 prior consults respectively. Paired t-tests revealed increased perceived comfort levels with understanding radiation oncology workflow, identifying urgent and emergent indications for radiation oncology consults, and placing appropriate radiation oncology consults (p < 0.001 for all 3 tests), with mean differences of 2.33 (95% CI 1.88, 2.78), 2.17 (95% CI 1.65, 2.69), and 1.94 (95% CI 1.55, 2.34) respectively. After the lecture, 16 of 18 (88.9%) participants thought that the lecture was relevant to their education, 17 (94.4%) thought that the lecture would influence their future clinical decision making, and 17 (94.4%) participants would recommend the lecture to future trainees.
Conclusion: This pilot study highlights the usefulness of a radiation oncology didactic lecture for internal medicine trainees at a single institution. Participants were found to have minimal prior exposure to radiation oncology, and the lecture improved participants’ perceived understanding of radiation oncology, which was reflected in increased self-perceived comfort levels with radiation oncology workflow and high Likert scores for the relevance and effectiveness of the lecture.