Completing the Results of a Pan-Canadian Survey on the State of Oncology Education in Family Practice Residency Programs: Comparison of One Province to the Rest of Canada

Authors

  • Alanna Janz Faculty of Medicine MD program, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada Author
  • Lisa Wang Family Medicine Residency Program, University of British Columbia Surrey-South Fraser, Surrey, British Columbia, Canada Author
  • Svetlana Bortnik Family Medicine Residency Program, University of British Columbia Surrey-South Fraser, Surrey, British Columbia, Canada Author
  • Jaspreet Garcha Family Medicine Residency Program, University of British Columbia Surrey-South Fraser, Surrey, British Columbia, Canada Author
  • Vincent Tam Tom Baker Cancer Centre; Department of Oncology, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada Author
  • Steven Yip Tom Baker Cancer Centre; Department of Oncology, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada Author
  • Paris Ann Ingledew Department of Surgery, Division of Radiation Oncology, Vancouver Cancer Center, BC Cancer Agency, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada Author

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.65539/7rfh5n34

Keywords:

oncology education, family medicine, residency training, medical education, curriculum development, Canada

Abstract

Introduction: The incidence and prevalence of cancer in Canada is rising, and family physicians will increasingly provide care at all stages of a patient's cancer journey. This highlights the importance of adequate oncology education in family practice training programs. A survey study done in 2017 to assess the state of oncology education in Canadian family practice residency programs did not include the University of British Columbia (UBC). The purpose of our study was to obtain this data for the UBC family practice residency program and to compare the results to those from the rest of Canada.

Methods: A web-based survey was emailed to UBC family practice residents and program directors. The survey assessed depth of the oncology curriculum, current teaching methods and perceived gaps. Results were compared to the non-UBC survey data and interpreted with descriptive statistics.

Results: 54/348 UBC family practice residents and 10/20 program directors completed the survey. 3% of UBC and 7% of non-UBC family practice residents felt their program adequately prepared them to care for oncology patients. There was uniformity among all participants in ratings of perceived importance of a list of oncology topics expected to be covered in training for residents. There was discordance in the perceived frequency of topics taught between all family practice residents and program directors.

Conclusion: This study can inform further development of oncology specific curriculum in family practice residency programs. Further study is required to understand areas of discordance between family practice residents and program directors.

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References

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Published

2022-08-29

How to Cite

Completing the Results of a Pan-Canadian Survey on the State of Oncology Education in Family Practice Residency Programs: Comparison of One Province to the Rest of Canada. (2022). Harvard Medical Student Review, 7(1), 37-44. https://doi.org/10.65539/7rfh5n34

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