A Targeted Interest Survey of Preclinical Medical Students for Implementation of Exposure Opportunities in Multidisciplinary Oncology Education

Abstract

<h3>Background</h3> With the growing prevalence of cancer, fostering multidisciplinary interest in oncology is an important priority in medical education. However, medical student interest in radiation oncology has declined in recent years (1) in part due to a lack of exposure. Efforts have been made to increase formal radiation oncology lectures within didactics. Additionally, preclinical extracurricular activities can provide unique opportunities for meaningful exposure to oncology, including radiation oncology. This study aims to assess current interest for oncology-related activities in preclinical medical students to facilitate innovative integration of radiation oncology-related curricula. <h3>Methods</h3> An anonymous web-based survey was created and distributed to the first-year class at a single academic institution. The survey included questions exploring interest in oncology-related talks, mentorship, shadowing at tumor board discussions, and participation in a longitudinal cancer patient advocacy program. <h3>Results</h3> The survey was distributed to 169 students, with a response rate of 33.1% (n = 56). Among responders, the highest interest activities were lectures (100%, n=56), tumor boards (89.2%, n=50), mentorship (60.7%, n=34), and volunteering (57.1%, n=32). For lectures, students were most interested in surgical oncology (42.9%, n=24), followed by medical oncology (41.1%, n=23) and radiation oncology (32.1%, n=18). Among topic-based talks, 69.6% (n=27) were interested in "how to break bad news", 62.5% (n=35) in cancer disparities, and 48.2% (n=27) in multidisciplinary panels. Respondents reported interest in tumor board discussions, with lung cancer receiving the most interest (53.7%, n=29), followed by breast (48.1%, n=26) and head and neck (40.7%, n=22). In addition, 57.1% (n=32) were interested in volunteering for a longitudinal patient advocacy program. Lastly, there was interest in oncology-specialty mentorship from residents/fellows (Medical=21.2%, n=11, Surgical=10.6%, n=7, Radiation=4.3%, n=2, and any specialty=26.9%, n=11). A significant proportion of surveyed first-year medical students at a single institution are interested in oncology-related talks, tumor boards, mentorship, and volunteering. However, there was disproportionately lower student interest in radiation oncology specific topics and mentorship. <h3>Discussion</h3> These results support invested development of robust, sustainable, extracurricular oncology programs during preclinical years. This helps guide areas to focus our efforts to cultivate and solidify interest in oncology with unique opportunities to integrate radiation oncology curricula. Similar interest surveys can be distributed at other institutions to assess what opportunities would garner interest and delineate activities that would present a meaningful perspective on radiation oncology and oncology as a whole.