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. 2023 Feb;38(1):201-205.
doi: 10.1007/s13187-021-02098-9. Epub 2021 Oct 2.

Assessment of Lymphoma and Other Hematologic Malignancies Training Needs Among Radiation Oncology Residents: a Brief Report

Jenna M Kahn  1 , Joanna C Yang  2 , Joachim Yahalom  3 , Bouthaina S Dabaja  4 , Neha Vapiwala  5 , Bradford S Hoppe  6 , Yolanda D Tseng  7 , Chelsea C Pinnix  4 , Rahul R Parikh  8 , Austin J Sim  9 , John P Plastaras  5 , Jillian R Gunther  10 ; with the ILROG Educational Steering Committee, ARRO Executive Committee
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Assessment of Lymphoma and Other Hematologic Malignancies Training Needs Among Radiation Oncology Residents: a Brief Report

Jenna M Kahn et al. J Cancer Educ. 2023 Feb.

Abstract

The role of radiation therapy (RT) varies across hematologic malignancies (HM). Radiation oncology (RO) resident comfort with specific aspects of HM patient management is unknown. The International Lymphoma RO Group (ILROG) assessed resident HM training opportunities and interest in an HM away elective. RO residents (PGY2-5) in the Association of Residents in RO (ARRO) database (n = 572) were emailed an anonymous, web-based survey in January 2019 including binary, Likert-type scale (1 = not at all, 5 = extremely, reported as median [interquartile range]), and multiple-choice questions. Of 134 resident respondents (23%), 86 (64%) were PGY4/5 residents and 36 (27%) were in larger programs (≥ 13 residents). Residents reported having specialized HM faculty (112, 84%) and a dedicated HM rotation (95, 71%). Residents reported "moderate" preparedness to advocate for RT in multidisciplinary conferences (3 [2-3]); make HM-related clinical decisions (3 [2-4]); and critique treatment planning (3 [2-4]). They reported feeling "moderately" to "quite" prepared to contour HM cases (3.5 [3-4]) and "quite" prepared to utilize the PET-CT five-point scale (4 [3-5]). Overall, residents reported feeling "moderately" prepared to treat HM patients (3 [2-3]); 24 residents (23%) felt "quite" or "extremely" prepared. Sixty-six residents (49%) were potentially interested in an HM away elective, commonly to increase comfort with treating HM patients (65%). Therefore, HM training is an important component of RO residency, yet a minority of surveyed trainees felt quite or extremely well prepared to treat HM patients. Programs should explore alternative and additional educational opportunities to increase resident comfort with treating HM patients.

Keywords: Hematologic malignancies; Radiation oncology; Residency training.

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Conflict of interest statement

Jillian Gunther reports unrelated funding through an RSNA Education Scholars Grant as well as compensation for participation in the Maryland Oral Boards Review Course and the Osler Review Course. No additional authors report any relevant Conflicts of Interest.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
A Trainee reported experience (in numbers of cases) with the treatment of individual hematologic malignancies diagnoses and specialized radiation therapy techniques. B Trainee reported comfort with various aspects of hematologic malignancies patient care
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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