Evaluation of the OncoTCap (Oncology Thinking Cap) simulation in teaching medical students about clinical trials: some successes and some surprises.
OBJECTIVE
A training workshop for cancer clinical trials was developed utilizing a computer simulation encompassing cancer biology, metabolism, adverse effects, and clinical trial design.


METHODS
Fourth-year medical students in a neoplasia elective course participated. The workshop was structured to maximize group discussions and interactions. Pretests and posttests were administered in a crossover design to evaluate learning about cancer clinical trials. Results. The comparison showed that the workshop did impart knowledge about cancer clinical trials.


CONCLUSIONS
Student evaluations of the workshop showed slight improvements from the first year to the second year.
Day
Roger S
RS
Department of Biostatistics, University of Pittsburgh, Sterling Plaza, 201 North Craig Street, Suite 325, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA. day@upci.pitt.edu
Manning
Brenda K
BK
Garrott
Denise
D
Brufsky
Adam M
AM
Baar
Joseph
J
Egorin
Merrill J
MJ
Shirey
William E
WE
Friedman
Charles
C
D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D003198:Computer Simulation; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D004493:Education; D004504:Education, Medical, Undergraduate / Q000379:methods*; D004521:Educational Measurement; D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms; D012984:Software; D013663:Teaching