Improving the Education of Radiation Oncology Professionals in Geriatric Oncology: Where Are We and Where Should We Be?

Abstract

As the global population ages, the care of older adults with cancer is increasingly recognised as a growing challenge in oncology practice worldwide. At present, outcomes for older adults with cancer are worse than younger counterparts. The need for improved clinician education around geriatric oncology is internationally recognised as being fundamental to addressing this problem. Radiation therapy represents an excellent localised treatment modality for older adults due to its limited systemic toxicity, especially in circumstances in which surgery and chemotherapy are deemed inappropriate. Thus, the education of future radiation oncologists and other radiation oncology professionals (including radiation therapists, nurses, and physicists) in geriatric oncology is crucial to ensuring the complex needs of this patient population are met. However, evidence shows that within the specialty of radiation oncology, knowledge levels around key concepts in geriatric oncology are low and there is limited educational focus on the specific issues important for the care of older adults. An evidence-based, global approach to improving radiation oncology professionals' knowledge and clinical practice in geriatric oncology is needed to provide optimal care for older adults undergoing radiation therapy. This article provides an overview of the current status of geriatric oncology training and education in the specialty of radiation oncology and future directions to improve the knowledge and skills of radiation oncology professionals in caring for older adults.