Randy L Wei1, Lauren E Colbert2, Joshua Jones3, Margarita Racsa4, Gabrielle Kane5, Steve Lutz6, Neha Vapiwala3, Kavita V Dharmarajan7. 1. Department of Radiation Oncology, University of California Irvine, Orange, California. 2. Department of Radiation Oncology, UT MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas. 3. Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. 4. Department of Radiation Oncology, Florida Hospital Cancer Institute, Deland, Florida. 5. Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington. 6. Department of Radiation Oncology, Blanchard Valley Health Systems, Findlay, Ohio. 7. Department of Radiation Oncology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York. Electronic address: kavita.dharmarajan@mountsinai.org.
Abstract
PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to assess the state of palliative and supportive care (PSC) and palliative radiation therapy (RT) educational curricula in radiation oncology residency programs in the United States. METHODS AND MATERIALS: We surveyed 87 program directors of radiation oncology residency programs in the United States between September 2015 and November 2015. An electronic survey on PSC and palliative RT education during residency was sent to all program directors. The survey consisted of questions on (1) perceived relevance of PSC and palliative RT to radiation oncology training, (2) formal didactic sessions on domains of PSC and palliative RT, (3) effective teaching formats for PSC and palliative RT education, and (4) perceived barriers for integrating PSC and palliative RT into the residency curriculum. RESULTS: A total of 57 responses (63%) was received. Most program directors agreed or strongly agreed that PSC (93%) and palliative radiation therapy (99%) are important competencies for radiation oncology residents and fellows; however, only 67% of residency programs had formal educational activities in principles and practice of PSC. Most programs had 1 or more hours of formal didactics on management of pain (67%), management of neuropathic pain (65%), and management of nausea and vomiting (63%); however, only 35%, 33%, and 30% had dedicated lectures on initial management of fatigue, assessing role of spirituality, and discussing advance care directives, respectively. Last, 85% of programs reported having a formal curriculum on palliative RT. Programs were most likely to have education on palliative radiation to brain, bone, and spine, but less likely on visceral, or skin, metastasis. CONCLUSIONS: Residency program directors believe that PSC and palliative RT are important competencies for their trainees and support increasing education in these 2 educational domains. Many residency programs have structured curricula on PSC and palliative radiation education, but room for improvement exists in management of fatigue, assessing role of spirituality, and discussion regarding advance care planning.
PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to assess the state of palliative and supportive care (PSC) and palliative radiation therapy (RT) educational curricula in radiation oncology residency programs in the United States. METHODS AND MATERIALS: We surveyed 87 program directors of radiation oncology residency programs in the United States between September 2015 and November 2015. An electronic survey on PSC and palliative RT education during residency was sent to all program directors. The survey consisted of questions on (1) perceived relevance of PSC and palliative RT to radiation oncology training, (2) formal didactic sessions on domains of PSC and palliative RT, (3) effective teaching formats for PSC and palliative RT education, and (4) perceived barriers for integrating PSC and palliative RT into the residency curriculum. RESULTS: A total of 57 responses (63%) was received. Most program directors agreed or strongly agreed that PSC (93%) and palliative radiation therapy (99%) are important competencies for radiation oncology residents and fellows; however, only 67% of residency programs had formal educational activities in principles and practice of PSC. Most programs had 1 or more hours of formal didactics on management of pain (67%), management of neuropathic pain (65%), and management of nausea and vomiting (63%); however, only 35%, 33%, and 30% had dedicated lectures on initial management of fatigue, assessing role of spirituality, and discussing advance care directives, respectively. Last, 85% of programs reported having a formal curriculum on palliative RT. Programs were most likely to have education on palliative radiation to brain, bone, and spine, but less likely on visceral, or skin, metastasis. CONCLUSIONS: Residency program directors believe that PSC and palliative RT are important competencies for their trainees and support increasing education in these 2 educational domains. Many residency programs have structured curricula on PSC and palliative radiation education, but room for improvement exists in management of fatigue, assessing role of spirituality, and discussion regarding advance care planning.
Authors: Daniel Hong; Lauren C Das; Ellen Daily; Stacie K Levine; Olwen M Hahn; Stanley L Liauw; Daniel W Golden; Christina H Son Journal: Support Care Cancer Date: 2021-05-25 Impact factor: 3.603
Authors: Sanders Chang; Peter May; Nathan E Goldstein; Juan Wisnivesky; Kenneth Rosenzweig; R Sean Morrison; Kavita V Dharmarajan Journal: J Palliat Med Date: 2017-11-30 Impact factor: 2.947
Authors: Neha Vapiwala; Charles R Thomas; Surbhi Grover; Mei Ling Yap; Timur Mitin; Lawrence N Shulman; Mary K Gospodarowicz; John Longo; Daniel G Petereit; Ronald D Ennis; James A Hayman; Danielle Rodin; Jeffrey C Buchsbaum; Bhadrasain Vikram; May Abdel-Wahab; Alan H Epstein; Paul Okunieff; Joel Goldwein; Patrick Kupelian; Joanne B Weidhaas; Margaret A Tucker; John D Boice; Clifton David Fuller; Reid F Thompson; Andrew D Trister; Silvia C Formenti; Mary-Helen Barcellos-Hoff; Joshua Jones; Kavita V Dharmarajan; Anthony L Zietman; C Norman Coleman Journal: Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys Date: 2019-05-22 Impact factor: 7.038
Authors: Christina M Puchalski; Andrea Sbrana; Betty Ferrell; Najmeh Jafari; Stephen King; Tracy Balboni; Guido Miccinesi; Anna Vandenhoeck; Michael Silbermann; Lodovico Balducci; Julianna Yong; Andrea Antonuzzo; Alfredo Falcone; Carla Ida Ripamonti Journal: ESMO Open Date: 2019-02-16