Resident Inpatient Curriculum for Oncology (RICO): Results of a targeted needs assessment performed in the Osler Internal Medicine Residency Program.

Abstract

365 Background: An important factor contributing to a resident’s interest in oncology training is early and consistent exposure to the field. Currently, completing an inpatient oncology rotation is associated with a decreased interest in pursuing a career in oncology and low resident satisfaction. The reasons for this are multi-factorial, including high task burden and limited dedicated teaching time. Fortunately, prior work has revealed that interest in oncology fellowship training increases when residents receive targeted educational material during their oncology rotations. As part of a multifaceted approach to improve the inpatient curriculum, we conducted a targeted needs assessment at our institution. Our goal is to improve resident satisfaction, clinical competency, and interest in pursuing subspecialty training in oncology by implementing a focused educational intervention. Methods: The Johns Hopkins Hospital is an urban academic medical center where the Osler Internal Medicine Residency Program of approximately 156 housestaff complete their training. A majority of these residents rotate through the inpatient solid tumor service. We performed a targeted needs assessment designed with the ABIM Blueprint, the solid tumor service learning objectives, and ACGME data specific to our program. The survey was created using Qualtrics software and distributed via email to all PGY-1, PGY-2, and PGY-3 residents. Results: 42.9% of residents participated in the survey. 79% of participants indicated they planned to pursue subspecialty training after residency with 21% of those in oncology. Approximately half of participants (45%) had rotated on the solid tumor service. 51% of participants reported barriers to education; the most common barriers identified were patient census and high resident task burden. “On the fly teaching” was the preferred instructional strategy by 70% of participants, followed by in-person didactics and asynchronous videos. The top three areas of interest for content creation were: basics of antineoplastic therapy, tumor lysis syndrome, and immune checkpoint inhibitor toxicities. Conclusions: Resident educational experiences on subspecialty rotations plays a strong role in the ultimate decision to pursue further training. Given the rising need for oncologists nationally, it is imperative that programs identify and address gaps in the educational experience on oncology rotations. Our needs assessment identified several concrete ways to improve resident experience on the Johns Hopkins inpatient solid tumor service. Next steps will include development and implementation of a high-yield resident inpatient curriculum for oncology (RICO), with focused assessments planned throughout the academic year to measure clinical competency, resident satisfaction and ultimately identify areas for further improvement.