J Cancer Educ
· 2025 Nov · PMID 41251978
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To evaluate the effectiveness of an interprofessional sequential simulation (ISS) teaching mode in improving theoretical knowledge, practical skills, interdisciplinary collaboration, and anxiety management among radiatio...To evaluate the effectiveness of an interprofessional sequential simulation (ISS) teaching mode in improving theoretical knowledge, practical skills, interdisciplinary collaboration, and anxiety management among radiation oncology residents (RORs) and radiation therapists during standardized training in China. A prospective randomized controlled study enrolled 70 RORs and radiation therapists (35 control vs. 35 simulation group). The control group received traditional clinical training, while the simulation group underwent ISS training, integrating role-play, standardized patient interactions, and collaborative radiotherapy planning. Outcomes were assessed via theoretical/practical examinations (0-100 points), interdisciplinary competency scales (ICA and TBP), anxiety levels (GAD-7), and satisfaction surveys. The simulation group demonstrated superior post-training theoretical scores (90.97 ± 4.53 vs. 86.54 ± 3.99, p < 0.0001) and practical performance (91.71 ± 4.61 vs. 87.83 ± 3.50, p = 0.0007) compared to the control group. Interdisciplinary collaboration scores (ICA: 43.83 ± 2.96 vs. 40.31 ± 3.38; TBP: 10.49 ± 2.03 vs. 7.94 ± 1.81, p < 0.001) and patient satisfaction (90% vs. 75%, p = 0.026) were significantly higher in the simulation group. Anxiety levels decreased markedly post-intervention for residents (GAD-7: 4.83 ± 1.32 to 4.23 ± 1.37, p = 0.056) and patients (moderate to mild, p < 0.05). The ISS model enhances RORs and radiation therapists' clinical competency, fosters interdisciplinary teamwork, and reduces anxiety, offering a robust framework for improving radiation oncology training in resource-limited settings. Future studies should explore long-term behavioral impacts and scalability.
Expósito-Hernández J, Fernández MF, Villalobos M
… +4 more, López-Hidalgo J, Guerrero-Tejada R, Tovar-Martín I, Ching-López R
J Cancer Educ
· 2025 Nov · PMID 41251977
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Cancer is recognised as a major health problem that requires a multidisciplinary approach to achieve the best possible outcomes. The rapid and important changes in the understanding of cancer need to be incorporated into...Cancer is recognised as a major health problem that requires a multidisciplinary approach to achieve the best possible outcomes. The rapid and important changes in the understanding of cancer need to be incorporated into clinical practice. Because of both the magnitude and pace of these changes, medical schools must also assess and update the level of knowledge and skills that need to be taught in oncology training. Multidisciplinary tumour boards (MTB) integrate the knowledge of various healthcare disciplines, assuring treatment according to the best available evidence or multidisciplinary consensus. However, these attributes are not sufficiently integrated into the curricula of Spanish medical schools. To fill this gap, specific seminars were designed and implemented during the medical degree programme at the University of Granada (Spain), over two academic years for 510 students. The first group focused on integrating knowledge in the field of oncology, while the second group focused on the purpose of the MTB in clinical practice and its role in decision-making in specific tumour cases. All the seminars included real cases of patients with medium-complexity tumours, along with the clinical practice guidelines from a university hospital as a reference. After two years of development, the initiative has been evaluated (15-items survey), with a high level of satisfaction among students and teachers, but awaiting the collection of objective learning outcomes. This article describes the seminars, along with how they were organized. and discusses the value of introducing validated pedagogical techniques. The incorporation of well-received pedagogical innovations, such as team-based and small-group teaching, together with 'flipped classroom' techniques, focuses both on students' individual knowledge and ability to interact with others.
Wood S, Hines J, Horton P
… +5 more, Leib J, Hembruff S, Krebill H, Lee SC, Harlan-Williams LM
J Cancer Educ
· 2025 Nov · PMID 41240176
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The current oncology workforce is struggling to keep up with demands for care. To address this shortage at The University of Kansas Cancer Center, we are educating the next generation about the breadth of careers at canc...The current oncology workforce is struggling to keep up with demands for care. To address this shortage at The University of Kansas Cancer Center, we are educating the next generation about the breadth of careers at cancer centers. We describe the impetus for and process of developing an engaging infographic, "Charting the Course: Careers Along the Cancer Journey," designed to resonate with high school students but which has also shown strong engagement and relevance among middle school students. The goal was to create a visual tool that not only illustrates the path of a cancer patient's journey, but also highlights the various careers a cancer patient might encounter along the way. Ultimately, our aim is to build a comprehensive oncology workforce that is representative of the population we serve, thus educating the next generation of the oncology workforce and improving the health of our community at large.
J Cancer Educ
· 2025 Nov · PMID 41240175
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The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA)'s accelerated approval pathway is intended to facilitate and expedite development and review for prescription drugs that treat serious or life-threatening illnesses such as cance...The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA)'s accelerated approval pathway is intended to facilitate and expedite development and review for prescription drugs that treat serious or life-threatening illnesses such as cancer. Three elements of this pathway are often disclosed on prescription drug websites for oncology prescription drugs: the basis for the drug's approval, that some clinical benefits are unknown, and that confirmatory trials are ongoing. To assess their retention and understanding of these elements, we randomly assigned 202 cancer survivors and 199 caregivers to view a website for a fictitious acute lymphoblastic leukemia prescription drug with one of four accelerated approval disclosures. All disclosures stated, "In a clinical trial, Altisol returned blood counts to normal." We randomly assigned participants to the presence or absence of an "unknown outcomes" disclosure: "However, we currently do not know if Altisol helps people live longer or feel better." We also randomly assigned participants to the presence or absence of a "confirmatory-trials" disclosure: "We continue to study Altisol in clinical trials to learn more about Altisol's benefits." Participants noticed the disclosures, recognizing the three elements when asked. Regardless of whether participants saw the confirmatory-trials disclosure, participants agreed that more data is needed to learn about the drug's efficacy. The unknown-outcomes disclosure increased comprehension across a wide range of measures. These results suggest that an accelerated approval disclosure (in particular, a statement about unknown outcomes) can help patients and caregivers understand a prescription drug's benefits, which can be critical for their participation in treatment decisions.
Qureshi BM, Hina M, Zakaria M
… +3 more, Tariq M, Ali T, Altaf S
J Cancer Educ
· 2025 Nov · PMID 41236703
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Pediatric cancer is a significant global health challenge, especially in low- and middle-income countries where there is a critical shortage of trained pediatric radiation oncologists. To address this gap, we piloted a d...Pediatric cancer is a significant global health challenge, especially in low- and middle-income countries where there is a critical shortage of trained pediatric radiation oncologists. To address this gap, we piloted a digital learning program to improve radiation therapy planning skills for pediatric sarcomas within Pakistan and the surrounding region. The activity included a two-day virtual workshop, held in July 2024, which featured didactic lectures and a week-long practical component where participants used the Eclipse Treatment Planning System for hands-on contouring exercises. We also administered pre- and post-workshop surveys to evaluate engagement and skill acquisition. Sixty-two participants, mainly radiation oncology trainees and consultants from South Asia and the Middle East, registered. Twenty-six were shortlisted for the hands-on activity, but only 19% completed the assignment. Technical issues like poor internet connectivity and platform glitches were identified as the main barriers. Despite these challenges, feedback was overwhelmingly positive. The hands-on contouring activity was considered the most valuable component by 63.6% of respondents, and 91% reported greater confidence in applying pediatric radiation oncology principles in their practice. This pilot demonstrates that a digital learning approach is a feasible and effective way to build capacity and address training disparities in resource-constrained settings.
Samson L, Hamilton SN, Berthelet E
… +3 more, Tran E, Wu J, Ingledew PA
J Cancer Educ
· 2025 Nov · PMID 41225139
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Young adults who encompass a great proportion of patients with thyroid cancer are widespread users of the internet and social media. This study aims to determine how thyroid cancer patients utilize online resources and t...Young adults who encompass a great proportion of patients with thyroid cancer are widespread users of the internet and social media. This study aims to determine how thyroid cancer patients utilize online resources and their impact, with a focus on social media platforms. Between June and December 2023, patients with thyroid cancer receiving care at a tertiary cancer centre were offered the opportunity to complete a survey on their internet and social media use. The survey included 37 open- and closed-ended questions exploring demographics, internet and social media habits, and the utility of these platforms. A mixed-method analysis was used to assess the results. Of the 102 patients who agreed to participate, 55 patients returned the survey (54%). Almost all participants (98%) reported using the internet, with 91% utilizing it to obtain information on thyroid cancer. Less than half (42%) of the participants who used the internet accessed social media platforms for acquiring thyroid cancer information, with a trend of younger patients being more frequent users. YouTube was the most popular site (95%), followed by Facebook (38%). The most common topics searched were personal experiences with thyroid cancer (62%) and radioactive iodine therapy (58%). Social media users expressed it was useful (88%), increased their understanding of thyroid cancer (76%), and informed treatment decision-making (39%). Social media platforms, particularly YouTube, are becoming increasingly popular for accessing health information. Overall, patients perceive social media to be a beneficial tool that supports thyroid cancer education, facilitates personal connections, and increases accessibility to information.
Tetmeyer L, Farkas N, Steinbrink GM
… +6 more, Mellen K, Litton E, Gorzelitz J, Schroeder MC, Moon C, Carr LJ
J Cancer Educ
· 2025 Nov · PMID 41196510
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Cancer survivors living in rural areas have poorer health outcomes due in part to poorer access to survivorship programs. This study evaluated the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary efficacy of a scalable, remot...Cancer survivors living in rural areas have poorer health outcomes due in part to poorer access to survivorship programs. This study evaluated the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary efficacy of a scalable, remotely-delivered health coaching lifestyle intervention for cancer survivors. In this phase II pilot study, we recruited young and middle-aged adult cancer survivors (18-64 years) to participate in a remotely-delivered eight-week lifestyle behavior change intervention that included remote health coaching sessions (administered by trained student health coaches), remote health education videos, and a wearable activity/sleep monitor. Feasibility was measured by enrollment, retention, and attrition rates, while acceptability was assessed via a post-intervention survey. Preliminary efficacy was evaluated by changes in psychosocial mechanisms, health behaviors, and cancer-related health outcomes. Our enrollment rate (49%) fell just short of our target (50%). Our retention rate (83%) exceeded our target rate of 75%. Adherence rates also exceeded targets (75%) with 99% of remote health coaching sessions attended, 84% of educational videos viewed, and activity monitors worn on 87% of all intervention days. Acceptability rates were also high with most participants reporting the program was beneficial (90%) and that they would recommend it to others (87%). We observed medium-large effects for several secondary/exploratory outcomes including behavioral regulation skills (Cohen's d = 2.04), fatigue (d = 0.86), and global health scores (d = 0.99). No pre-post changes were observed for physical activity, diet, or sleep behaviors. Findings suggest it is feasible to deliver an acceptable remote lifestyle intervention to young and middle-aged cancer survivors. Improvements in targeted psychosocial and cancer-related health markers are promising and support the need for a larger, controlled follow-up study. These findings support the feasibility of delivering a remote, lifestyle behavior change program to young and middle-aged cancer survivors.
de Heus E, Husson O, Zwaan E
… +4 more, Oerlemans S, Mols F, Ezendam NPM, Duijts SFA
J Cancer Educ
· 2025 Nov · PMID 41191317
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Health literacy (HL) has been found to affect perceived information provision (PIP), satisfaction with information provision, and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in patients with cancer. Patients with a rare cance...Health literacy (HL) has been found to affect perceived information provision (PIP), satisfaction with information provision, and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in patients with cancer. Patients with a rare cancer are confronted with challenges, such as a lack of information. The aim of this study was to explore the impact of HL on PIP, satisfaction with information provision, and on HRQoL in rare compared to common cancer patients.A population-based study was conducted using the PROFILES registry. Patients with rare (n = 385) and common (n = 1,692) cancer were included. Within group associations (low/medium HL, high HL, rare cancer, common cancer) were assessed. Regression analyses were used to assess associations between HL, PIP, satisfaction, and HRQoL, taking cancer group into account.Within the low/medium HL group, no statistically significant differences were found between rare and common cancer patients. Yet, within the high HL group, rare cancer patients scored significantly lower on all PIP-categories (except PIP-medical tests), satisfaction and HRQoL. Within the rare cancer group, patients with low/medium HL scored lower, compared to those with high HL, on PIP-medical tests and PIP-treatment, while within the common cancer group, patients with low/medium HL scored lower on all PIP-categories, satisfaction and HRQoL (all: p<0.05).Information needs might vary between patients with a different HL level and/or cancer group. Healthcare professionals should take individual needs into account, with a special focus on patients with a rare cancer and low/medium HL, in order to convey information in an understandable, patient-tailored way.
Li M, Fan ZJ, Ehsan M
… +2 more, Giuliani M, Watson G
J Cancer Educ
· 2025 Nov · PMID 41191316
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Cancer is the leading cause of death in Canada, and care for cancer patients is becoming increasingly complex. Oncology education, particularly for internal medicine trainees, has been shown to be lacking in both a Canad...Cancer is the leading cause of death in Canada, and care for cancer patients is becoming increasingly complex. Oncology education, particularly for internal medicine trainees, has been shown to be lacking in both a Canadian and global context. In Canada, residency training is now delivered through a competence-based medical education system. Trainees achieve competency by completing "tasks" called Entrustable Professional Activities (EPAs). Using document analysis, 27 EPAs encompassing 401 observations were identified in the general internal medicine residency curriculum. These were mapped to 17 subspecialties. Cardiology and general medicine EPAs comprised the highest proportions at 12% and 10% respectively. However, oncology-related objectives comprised only 6% of all EPAs, ranking 9 in representation among the subspecialties. We believe updated efforts are needed to improve oncology education within internal medicine training given increasing public health needs. Creating a national curriculum with standardized learning objectives that may complement the Competence by Design (CBD) curriculum could satisfy this educational need.
J Cancer Educ
· 2025 Nov · PMID 41182519
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The National Cancer Institute (NCI) reports declines in the size and retention of early career researchers. To address a growing need in training that fosters retention and success, we developed, implemented, and evaluat...The National Cancer Institute (NCI) reports declines in the size and retention of early career researchers. To address a growing need in training that fosters retention and success, we developed, implemented, and evaluated a virtual, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)-based, intensive, three-day workshop. This workshop focused on resiliency and leadership skills for early-career NCI-funded investigators conducting basic, translational, or clinical research. A multidisciplinary team of supportive oncology researchers from Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Massachusetts General Hospital developed a workshop focused on: (1) advanced research methods in oncology research; (2) leadership skills; and (3) resilience skills using an ACT framework. This workshop trained 91 early career investigators over five cohorts. Participants completed self-report measures at three time points: pre-course, 6 months, and 12 months for evaluation. Most participants were female (59.3%), White, and had a PhD. Of those who responded to the survey at 6 months follow-up (n = 80), the majority reported using acceptance skills (63.8%), values (67.5%), and cognitive defusion (60%). At 12 months follow-up (n = 77), 67.5% reported use of acceptance, 70.1% reported using values, and 51.9% used cognitive defusion. We developed a three-day workshop focused on resiliency training for NCI-funded, early career investigators using an ACT framework. The majority of participating investigators reported retention and utilization of ACT-based skills at 6- and 12-months post-workshop. While findings suggest that early career investigators can learn and retain ACT-based skills to enhance resilience, further research is needed to determine whether these skills contribute to long-term career sustainability.
J Cancer Educ
· 2025 Oct · PMID 41162694
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A lack of diversity in the biomedical research workforce significantly affects our ability to address the public health burden and financial costs associated with cancer health disparities. To address this issue, we crea...A lack of diversity in the biomedical research workforce significantly affects our ability to address the public health burden and financial costs associated with cancer health disparities. To address this issue, we created the Meharry Cancer Summer Undergraduate Research Program (SURP). The Meharry Cancer SURP is a 10-week intensive research experience designed to expose undergraduate students to the area of cancer health disparities; provide students with a greater understanding of basic, clinical and translational cancer research; and to inspire participants to pursue cancer-focused careers. During the first six years of the program a nationwide search was performed to identify and select 10-17 participants per year. Students performed research projects with experienced investigators at either Meharry Medical College or Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center. Each student participated in a week-long cancer biology mini course to ensure students understood fundamental concepts common to all cancers and relevance to the study of health disparities. They also attended research seminars given by oncologists and cancer researchers and career development sessions designed to provide information on cancer-focused career options and the tools required to submit competitive applications to medical and/or PhD graduate schools. Together these activities increased student awareness of cancer research and cancer health disparities. They also provided opportunities for participants to become part of the larger cancer research community.
Carey C, Yeung A, Gittins A
… +2 more, Safwaan A, Radhakrishna G
J Cancer Educ
· 2025 Oct · PMID 41144221
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UK medical schools currently have no formal educational curricula for surgery and oncology. Many students and resident doctors also report low confidence levels and struggle to grasp key concepts within these fields. Thi...UK medical schools currently have no formal educational curricula for surgery and oncology. Many students and resident doctors also report low confidence levels and struggle to grasp key concepts within these fields. This study assessed the impact of an online teaching series on learner confidence in surgical oncology. Nine sessions focused on the surgical management of multiple forms of cancer were delivered. Learner confidence before and after the sessions was compared using paired t-tests, and qualitative feedback was collected and analysed using grounded theory. 275 people attended the sessions live from countries in Europe, Asia, and Africa, and 193 provided feedback. Attendees' cumulative confidence rating was significantly higher after the sessions (p = 0.0001, t = 14.0, Cohen's d = 4.06). 168 learners provided positive qualitative feedback, and 88 gave constructive criticism. Common strong points included the presentation, content, and visual materials used during the teaching. Recordings of the sessions were accessed by 391 learners across five continents. 48 provided feedback, and their mean confidence level was significantly greater after accessing the content compared to before (p = 0.0001, t = 8.104, Cohen's d = 3.90). There are currently few formal teaching programmes focusing on surgical oncology. Our series successfully improved learner confidence about the surgical management of a variety of malignancies. The promotion of similar online teaching methods with improved interactivity and accessibility should allow more learners across the world to build confidence in this field.
Luque JS, Kiros GE, Ali AA
… +7 more, Dickey SL, Vargas M, Jackson DR, Mohorne R, Doddi T, Wallace K, Gwede CK
J Cancer Educ
· 2025 Oct · PMID 41134442
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In the United States, colorectal cancer (CRC) mortality rates are higher in African Americans compared to non-Hispanic whites, partly due to advanced stage cancer diagnosis. Timely CRC screening helps to increase CRC ear...In the United States, colorectal cancer (CRC) mortality rates are higher in African Americans compared to non-Hispanic whites, partly due to advanced stage cancer diagnosis. Timely CRC screening helps to increase CRC early detection and survival in this population. The objective of this monitoring study was to survey African American patients of Community Health Centers (CHC) in north Florida and to monitor CRC screening adherence (either stool-based or colonoscopy) after they had completed a clinical trial testing a screening education intervention. Seventy-nine African American patients who were between the ages of 45 and 64 years old at the time of initial trial recruitment completed a 24-month follow-up survey, and 44% reported stool-based CRC screening in the last year. Results from the general estimating equations (GEE) model found there was a statistically significant difference in CRC screening adherence by study arm at 24 months where the intervention group was less likely to be up to date than the usual care control (OR = 0.60, 95% CI 0.43-0.83). Married or partnered participants (OR = 1.52, 95% CI 1.31-1.77) and employed participants (OR = 1.34, 95% CI 1.17-1.53) were more likely to be adherent to screening, but female participants were less likely to be adherent (OR = 0.76, 95% CI 0.70-0.82). Participants with higher mistrust in doctors were less likely to have completed screening (OR = 0.93, 95% CI 0.88-0.99). The findings suggest the importance of screening outreach to unmarried, unemployed, female African Americans. The results of this monitoring study indicate one-on-one cancer education with a community health advisor and education on the availability and functionality of electronic patient portals have potential for increasing adherence to recommended CRC screening. The study has implications for measuring CRC screening adherence in community settings.