Head-and-neck target delineation among radiation oncology residents after a teaching intervention: a prospective, blinded pilot study.
OBJECTIVE
We conducted this study to determine the feasibility of incorporating a teaching intervention on target delineation into the educational curriculum of a radiation oncology residency program and to assess the short-term effects on resident skills.


METHODS
The study schema consisted of a baseline evaluation, the teaching intervention, and a follow-up evaluation. At the baseline evaluation, the participants contoured three clinical tumor volumes (CTVs) (70 Gy, 59.4 Gy, and 54 Gy) on six contrast-enhanced axial computed tomography images of a de-identified patient with Stage T2N2bM0 squamous cell carcinoma of the right base of the tongue. The participants attended a series of head-and-neck oncology and anatomy seminars. The teaching intervention consisted of a didactic lecture and an interactive hands-on practical session designed to improve the knowledge and skills for target delineation in the head and neck. At the follow-up evaluation, the residents again contoured the CTVs.


RESULTS
Of the 14 eligible residents, 11 (79%) actually participated in the study. For all participants, but especially for those who had not had previous experience with head-and-neck target delineation, the teaching intervention was associated with improvement in the delineation of the node-negative neck (CTV 54 Gy contour). Regardless of clinical experience, participants had difficulty determining what should be included in the CTV 59.4 Gy contour to ensure adequate coverage of potential microscopic disease.


CONCLUSIONS
Incorporating a teaching intervention into the education curriculum of a radiation oncology residency program is feasible and was associated with short-term improvements in target delineation skills. Subsequent interventions will require content refinement, additional validation, longer term follow-up, and multi-institutional collaboration.
Bekelman
Justin E
JE
Department of Radiation Oncology, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA.
Wolden
Suzanne
S
Lee
Nancy
N
D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D002983:Clinical Competence; D003479:Curriculum; D003951:Diagnostic Errors; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006801:Humans; D007318:Inservice Training / Q000379:methods; D007396:Internship and Residency; D008297:Male; D010865:Pilot Projects; D015397:Program Evaluation; D011446:Prospective Studies; D018787:Radiation Oncology / Q000193:education*; D050397:Radiotherapy, Intensity-Modulated; D013663:Teaching / Q000379:methods*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D047368:Tumor Burden