1182 - Radiation Oncology for the Non-Radiation Oncologist: Results from a Hospital-Wide Training Intervention

Purpose/Objective(s): Oncology requires extensive multidisciplinary collaboration. However, most providers have limited exposure to radiation oncology (RO) during training. There is minimal data describing formal educational interventions in this sphere.

Materials/Methods: We developed a hospital-wide educational intervention consisting of a case-based, interactive lecture to improve knowledge and understanding of emergent & inpatient RO. We delivered the intervention to trainees in internal medicine, emergency medicine, medical oncology, radiology, neurosurgery, orthopedics, gynecology-oncology, urology, otolaryngology, and ophthalmology within our hospital network. The first portion of the 1-hour lecture covered general principles of radiation therapy (RT), relevant toxicities, and logistics of simulation and treatment. The second portion focused on indications for inpatient & emergent RT through 2-3 specialty-specific cases. We assessed attitudes toward and knowledge regarding RO with pre- & post-intervention surveys. Objective knowledge was assessed with true/false questions. Subjective knowledge and attitudes were assessed on a Likert scale. Wilcoxon matched pairs signed rank test was used to compare pre- & post-attendance survey responses. This study was approved under expedited IRB.

Results: We presented our intervention to 266 staff and received 121 pre-intervention and 58 post-intervention surveys. Of these, there were 52 matched survey responses. Among matched respondents, 69.2% were residents, 19.2% fellows, and 3.8% medical students. Only 28.8% had experience in a RO department, and 63.4% had previously consulted RO. Training year ranged from medical student to PGY-7. Questions regarding objective knowledge covered simulation requirements, washout for systemic therapy, patient eligibility, contraindications to RT, basics of RT, and urgent/emergent indications for RT. There was a significant improvement in overall objective knowledge comparing matched pre- & post-attendance correct responses (p<0.0001). Likert scale responses also demonstrated significant improvement in subjective knowledge after the intervention.

Conclusion: This hospital-wide 1-hour, RO educational intervention improved knowledge of and attitudes toward RO among non-radiation oncologists. Such an intervention is feasible and may improve multidisciplinary collaboration in cancer care.