title: Advances in cancer management: at what cost to medical student education?
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Several studies have demonstrated concern over medical student exposure to cancer patients. Aim. To examine this concern and explore possible explanations.
  
  
  METHODS
  Surveys of Australian and New Zealand interns in 1990 and 2001 were compared to surveys of University of Western Australia graduates from 2002-2006.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Significant decreases in the number of interns who had examined cancer patients from 1990 to 2006 were evident, despite spending more time in oncology clinics.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Advances in patient management has resulted in a shift to ambulatory care reducing patient accessibility. Medical schools must identify means to provide students with adequate patent exposure.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Oncology, Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, Nedlands, WA, Australia. darren.starmer@health.wa.gov.au
authors.forename: Darren L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Starmer
authors.forename: Michael B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Barton
mesh_terms: D001315:Australia; D002983:Clinical Competence; D003479:Curriculum / Q000639:trends*; D004504:Education, Medical, Undergraduate / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D007396:Internship and Residency; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy*; D013337:Students, Medical / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires