Radiation Oncology Residents Research Articles

Radiation Oncology Residency Training in Saudi Arabia: Direction in Attaining Competencies

Radiation Oncology Residency Training in Saudi Arabia: Direction in Attaining Competencies

Problem-based learning on the WeChat public platform in radiation oncology residency training programs.

This study explored the effectiveness of a Problem-based Learning (PBL) teaching model on the WeChat public platform for radiation oncology residency training programs. The WeChat PBL program was initiated in 2019. The study recruited student participants, on a voluntary basis, who were in their first and second years of standardized training in radiation oncology. We selected classic and trending issues in radiation oncology as the two main teaching topics. Students in the PBL group searched for relevant literature, summarizing PowerPoint presentations or academic speeches on specific issues published on the professional WeChat public platform after an in-depth review by teachers. The final national standardized training examination scores for resident physicians were used to evaluate teaching effectiveness. The graduation scores of the PBL and non-PBL groups were compared, and a stratified analysis was conducted based on the year of participation to assess the teaching effectiveness of this model. Moreover, questionnaires were administered to evaluate students' experiences. Among the 36 students who joined the study in 2019, 16 (44.0%) voluntarily joined the PBL teaching group. Nine students started teaching PBL in their first year of residency, accounting for 47.4% of that year, and seven started in their second year, accounting for 41.2%. The average graduation scores of the PBL group were superior to those of the non-PBL-focused group for the same grade. The rate of high scores among students in the PBL group (56.3%) was higher than that of students in the non-PBL group (25%). Specifically, first-year residents who joined the PBL group had an average score of 92.3 ± 2.2, significantly higher than their non-PBL counterparts, who scored an average of 88.6 ± 4.6, showing a statistically significant advantage (p = 0.042). All students were satisfied with the PBL WeChat teaching and would recommend the PBL WeChat course to others. The PBL residency teaching model on the WeChat platform improved residency scores and garnered student satisfaction.

Perceived Factors That Enable Resident Entry to the Specialty of Radiation Oncology.

The field of radiation oncology (RO) has experienced large fluctuations in the number of applicants to residency programs. It is essential to understand the modifiable factors which influence entry. The objective of this project is to identify factors (i.e., "enablers") that motivate prospective medical students to apply to RO. A survey was developed to characterize RO enablers and barriers as perceived by current RO residents. An existing conceptual framework of why medical students choose primary care was used as the foundation of the survey and was modified for relevance towards RO. The final mixed-methods survey was administered to Canadian RO residents (2015-2019 match years) via Program Directors and the Canadian Association of Radiation Oncologists resident member database. Medical students are most likely to select a career in RO during or after a clerkship experience. Extrinsic factors strongly motivating interest in RO were (% rating as very important or extremely important on a 5-point scale) as follows: positive feedback from radiation oncologists (86%) and RO residents (66%), clinical rotations in RO (84%) and mentorship (77%). Intrinsic factors include perceived fulfillment (95.2%), commitment to patient care (85.3%), and intellectual challenge (67.7%). Qualitative data highlighted the importance of mentorship, the "hand-heart" connection, career variability/flexibility, career satisfaction/lifestyle, and personal connections with cancer/cancer care in motivating students to pursue RO. Increased preclinical exposure such as mentorship may encourage students to seek clerkship opportunities in RO. These findings inform strategies to recruit medical students to a career in RO.

MSOR09 Presentation Time: 8:40 AM: Individuals Who Graduate from a US Radiation Oncology Residency Program and Subsequently Complete a Brachytherapy Fellowship: Who Are They?

MSOR09 Presentation Time: 8:40 AM: Individuals Who Graduate from a US Radiation Oncology Residency Program and Subsequently Complete a Brachytherapy Fellowship: Who Are They?

MSOR08 Presentation Time: 8:35 AM: Confidence in Brachytherapy Proficiency among Graduating Radiation Oncology Residents between 2020-2023

MSOR08 Presentation Time: 8:35 AM: Confidence in Brachytherapy Proficiency among Graduating Radiation Oncology Residents between 2020-2023

Second Look Opportunity for Radiation Oncology Medical Residency During Virtual Interview Season

PurposeDespite easing of COVID-19 travel restrictions and social distancing, medical radiation oncology (RO) residency interviews for the 2023 Match remained exclusively virtual. Virtual interviews can be limited in providing program atmosphere, resident camaraderie, and city culture. Our institution offered a voluntary in-person second look (SL) to address these concerns and supplement the virtual interview. Methods and MaterialA voluntary in-person SL across 3 dates was offered to all applicants who successfully interviewed with the RO department for the 2023 Match (n=54). Attendees of the SLs (n=38) were invited to complete a voluntary 10-question anonymous survey after Match Day regarding their perspectives on this opportunity including motivations for attending, financial burden, and perceived benefits of SLs. Results38 individuals (70%) attended one of the departmental SLs with 19 participants (50%) completing the survey. 16 out of 19 (84%) participants traveled >200 miles to attend. All surveyed applicants were grateful for the in-person SL opportunity and agreed such opportunities should continually be offered with exclusively virtual residency interviews. All participants reported that their decision to attend the SL was affected by departmental financial support. Two applicants felt pressured to attend the SL to remain competitive to the program. Majority of applicants agreed that they achieved a better “feel” for the program culture and the larger institution, resident camaraderie, and the surrounding city from this in-person SL encounter, compared to virtual interview alone (18, 94%). ConclusionThese in-person second look opportunities were well-attended, well-received, and offered insights and experiences to RO resident applicants in the setting of exclusively virtual interviews. The cost of attendance may be a limiting factor when applicants are deciding to attend in-person SLs. Caution is needed to ensure applicants do not feel obligated to attend and SLs are not used as a platform for inappropriate post interview communication.

Artificial intelligence-assisted delineation for postoperative radiotherapy in patients with lung cancer: a prospective, multi-center, cohort study

BackgroundPostoperative radiotherapy (PORT) is an important treatment for lung cancer patients with poor prognostic features, but accurate delineation of the clinical target volume (CTV) and organs at risk (OARs) is challenging and time-consuming. Recently, deep learning-based artificial intelligent (AI) algorithms have shown promise in automating this process.ObjectiveTo evaluate the clinical utility of a deep learning-based auto-segmentation model for AI-assisted delineating CTV and OARs in patients undergoing PORT, and to compare its accuracy and efficiency with manual delineation by radiation oncology residents from different levels of medical institutions.MethodsWe previously developed an AI auto-segmentation model in 664 patients and validated its contouring performance in 149 patients. In this multi-center, validation trial, we prospectively involved 55 patients and compared the accuracy and efficiency of 3 contouring methods: (i) unmodified AI auto-segmentation, (ii) fully manual delineation by junior radiation oncology residents from different medical centers, and (iii) manual modifications based on AI segmentation model (AI-assisted delineation). The ground truth of CTV and OARs was delineated by 3 senior radiation oncologists. Contouring accuracy was evaluated by Dice similarity coefficient (DSC), Hausdorff distance (HD), and mean distance of agreement (MDA). Inter-observer consistency was assessed by volume and coefficient of variation (CV).ResultsAI-assisted delineation achieved significantly higher accuracy compared to unmodified AI auto-contouring and fully manual delineation by radiation oncologists, with median HD, MDA, and DCS values of 20.03 vs. 21.55 mm, 2.57 vs. 3.06 mm, 0.745 vs. 0.703 (all P<0.05) for CTV, respectively. The results of OARs contours were similar. CV for OARs was reduced by approximately 50%. In addition to better contouring accuracy, the AI-assisted delineation significantly decreased the consuming time and improved the efficiency.ConclusionAI-assisted CTV and OARs delineation for PORT significantly improves the accuracy and efficiency in the real-world setting, compared with pure AI auto-segmentation or fully manual delineation by junior oncologists. AI-assisted approach has promising clinical potential to enhance the quality of radiotherapy planning and further improve treatment outcomes of patients with lung cancer.

A five-year, multi-institutional mentorship program in radiation oncology: the Society for Women in Radiation Oncology experience: Short running title: SWRO Mentorship Program

BackgroundMentorship in the field of radiation oncology (RO) promotes career development and satisfaction. Many individuals, however, do not have access to mentorship or are unsatisfied with their mentorship experience, potentially due to insufficient gender-concordant mentorship opportunities. To address this, the Society for Women in Radiation Oncology (SWRO) created the SWRO Mentorship Program for women, gender minorities, and those with intersecting marginalized identities at all stages of training for physicians and medical physicists. We present the five-year experience of the largest multi-institutional mentorship program, to our knowledge, in RO. MethodsPublicly available information and the SWRO mentorship sign-up form were used. Descriptive statistics and binomial tests compared to reference points were conducted. ResultsBetween January 2018 and June 2023, 296 individuals from 19 countries participated in the mentorship program, generating 225 mentee-mentor pairs. The majority were female (89.2%), based in the United States (US; 84.8%), and on the physician-track (96.6%). The remainder of the analysis focused on US-based, physician-track participants (n = 244), the majority of whom were female (96.7%) and trainees (58.2%). Among those who have completed RO residency, most accepted a first job in academia (82.1%) and remained in academia at the time of the analysis (76.3%). A significantly higher proportion of SWRO mentorship participants compared to the reference point took a first job in academia (82.1% vs 58.3%; p<0.0001). The most common disease sites of focus for the physician-track trainees who finished residency are breast (50.4%), central nervous system (32.7%), and gynecologic malignancies (30.1%), with 54% listing more than one. The most common expressed goals of mentorship are research (35.8%), leadership (24.5%), and building connections within a specific geography or institution (19.2%). ConclusionsThe SWRO experience demonstrates the feasibility of a large-scale, multi-institutional mentorship program in RO.

The Fletcher-Cox Pathway: A Unique View on Clinical Trial Education

PurposeThere currently are no established formal mentorship and training program for radiation oncology (RO) trainees to learn trial design, creation, writing, or implementation. There only exists informal training on analyzing clinical trials in RO residency programs. The integration of a longitudinal formal training and mentorship program for clinical trialists - consisting of clinical trial education, design, mentorship, and implementation during the RO residency education will give residents not only formal teaching in the subject, but strong tools and requisite mentorship in hopes to help them succeed as future academic physicians and leaders in the field of radiation oncology. Methods and MaterialsWe developed a clinical trial training pathway in 2018 at XXX, proposing it as a pilot program. The “Fletcher-Cox Pathway” was accepted with a highly positive response by trainees. and is is now offered as a standard option to RO trainees at our institution. ResultsWith the guidance of their principal investigator (PI), residents participating in this pathway design and submit a clinical trial for institutional review board (IRB) review. In 2019, after implementation of the pilot program, 4 of the incoming 7 residents joined the pathway. The program continues, and the current cohort of trainees have received training in clinical trials design andworked with dedicated mentor(s) regarding clinical trial ideas; their studies are currently accruing patients. ConclusionsThis pilot program has been viewed by trainees and mentors as successful; it highlights how a structured approach meets a clear need within RO training. We envision the creation of a national platform to increase access, whereby programs adopt this clinical trialist educational pathway, which ultimately leads to the development of a robust clinical trial community with communal resources. We hope that this not only improves and provides educational initiatives to all trainees but also initiates further collaboration.

180 Implementation of a PGY-1 Multidisciplinary Surgical Block in Radiation Oncology Residency Training

180 Implementation of a PGY-1 Multidisciplinary Surgical Block in Radiation Oncology Residency Training

Exploring Motivating Factors for Pursuing Radiation Oncology: A Comparative Analysis of Medical Students and Residents.

Purpose Increasing medical student (MS) interest in radiation oncology (RO) is important to meet the rising demand for radiation oncologists. Understanding the factors that drive MS to pursue RO is crucial. This study compares motivating factors between MS and RO residents to inform interventions to increase recruitment and sustained interest in the specialty. Methods Data from two similar studies investigating factors motivating MS and residents to pursue RO were analyzed. The first study surveyed Canadian RO residents to characterize enablers when applying for RO residency. The second study analyzed application essays from MS applying to an RO studentship. A mixed methods approach was used to compare themes ("career aspects,""prior exposure," and "personal experiences") between the datasets. Results Qualitative analysis demonstrated that both MS and residents identified "career aspects" as the most common theme facilitating interest in RO careers. "Multidisciplinary work" and "direct clinical contact and patient care" were prominent sub-themes. MS emphasized "serious illness and palliative care" and "advanced technology,"while residents prioritized RO as a "rewarding career.""Prior exposure,"particularly through shadowing/observerships, was more important for MS than residents who valued clinical experiences. Practical career considerations including "mentorship" and "career satisfaction and lifestyle" were significant motivators for residents. Conclusion MS value content-based aspects of RO and emphasize shadowing. In contrast, RO residents prioritize lifestyle-based considerations. These differences highlight the opportunity for intervention throughout medical training to sustain interest in RO and facilitate applications to RO residency programs.

Cloud-based Self-directed Contouring Modules in Radiation Oncology Residency: Interim Results

Cloud-based Self-directed Contouring Modules in Radiation Oncology Residency: Interim Results

Coaching for Radiation Oncology Residents and Faculty- A Pilot Program

Coaching for Radiation Oncology Residents and Faculty- A Pilot Program

Analysis of Radiation Oncology Residency Program Websites: A Call For Further Improvements

Analysis of Radiation Oncology Residency Program Websites: A Call For Further Improvements

Assessment of an Onco-Radiology Course for Radiation Oncology Residents

Assessment of an Onco-Radiology Course for Radiation Oncology Residents

Radiation Oncology Education Collaborative Study Group Physics Curriculum Needs Assessment for Radiation Oncology Residents

Radiation Oncology Education Collaborative Study Group Physics Curriculum Needs Assessment for Radiation Oncology Residents

Utility of Virtual Sessions to Inform Medical Students about Radiation Oncology Residency Programs

Utility of Virtual Sessions to Inform Medical Students about Radiation Oncology Residency Programs

Oh, the Places You'll Go? Exploring the Geographic Program Distribution and Use of Geographic Preferences in the Current Radiation Oncology Residency Application Cycle

Oh, the Places You'll Go? Exploring the Geographic Program Distribution and Use of Geographic Preferences in the Current Radiation Oncology Residency Application Cycle

Standardizing Assessment of Gynecologic Brachytherapy Contours: A Pilot Study in Contour Competency Assessment for Radiation Oncology Residents

Standardizing Assessment of Gynecologic Brachytherapy Contours: A Pilot Study in Contour Competency Assessment for Radiation Oncology Residents

AI in oncology: Resident perspectives by gender and tech literacy.

9055 Background: The integration of AI and ML in oncology demands that physicians adapt and grasp the basics for responsible use. We evaluated AI knowledge and perspectives among Canadian oncology residents, noting differences by program, gender, and tech literacy, and pinpointing education gaps. Methods: An ethics-approved survey collected anonymous responses from Canadian oncology residents, analyzing gender, program, and tech skills. Descriptive statistics, cross-tabs, and chi-square tests assessed associations; t-tests and Mann-Whitney tests compared groups. Results: A total of 57 (31%) residents and fellows, out of an estimated 182, participated, with representation from each oncology training program in Canada. Most of participants were male (63.2%) and most participants self-identified as white (42.1%) or Asian (22.8%). RO programs were better represented than MO programs (68.5% vs 31.6%) with balanced representation across all years of training. In our survey, women equally favored Medical Oncology (MO) and Radiation Oncology (RO) at 50%, but were more in MO (55.6%) than RO (26.3%). Men preferred RO (77.8%) over MO (22.2%). Tech literacy showed a gender gap, with more men (91.7%) feeling tech-savvy than women (8.3%). Tech-savvy respondents leaned towards RO (84%) and were younger (30 vs 33 years). They also showed more willingness to use AI, with a significant difference in willingness scores (1.52 vs 2.06). Despite gender not influencing AI attitudes significantly, tech literacy correlated with better AI understanding. High awareness of AI in medicine was reported (91.2%), with a strong belief in AI's future prevalence (96%). The majority were willing to use AI (86%) and recognized the need to understand it (74%). RO participants were more inclined towards AI education and usage than MO counterparts. The study highlighted a significant interest in AI learning (73%), with a preference for workshops (79%). Only 29% could describe AI, indicating a gap in AI education, despite 63% acknowledging its importance in training. Formal AI training was rare (12.3%), with a desire for more education, especially among RO residents. All findings had p&lt;0.05. Conclusions: Canadian oncology residents anticipate AI's growing influence in medicine but face educational deficiencies. Gender, program preference, and tech literacy impact attitudes toward AI, highlighting the need for inclusive education to bridge gaps and foster diversity in AI's medical application.