title: Oncology education in Canadian undergraduate and postgraduate medical programs: a survey of educators and learners.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The oncology education framework currently in use in Canadian medical training programs is unknown, and the needs of learners have not been fully assessed to determine whether they are adequately prepared to manage patients with cancer.
  
  
  METHODS
  To assess the oncology education framework currently in use at Canadian medical schools and residency training programs for family (fm) and internal medicine (im), and to evaluate opinions about the content and utility of standard oncology education objectives, a Web survey was designed and sent to educators and learners. The survey recipients included undergraduate medical education curriculum committee members (umeccms), directors of fm and im programs, oncologists, medical students, and fm and im residents.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Survey responses were received from 677 educators and learners. Oncology education was felt to be inadequate in their respective programs by 58% of umeccms, 57% of fm program directors, and 50% of im program directors. For learners, oncology education was thought to be inadequate by 67% of medical students, 86% of fm residents, and 63% of im residents. When comparing teaching of medical subspecialty-related diseases, all groups agreed that their trainees were least prepared to manage patients with cancer. A standard set of oncology objectives was thought to be possibly or definitely useful for undergraduate learners by 59% of respondents overall and by 61% of postgraduate learners.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Oncology education in Canadian undergraduate and postgraduate fm and im training programs are currently thought to be inadequate by a majority of educators and learners. Developing a standard set of oncology objectives might address the needs of learners.
authors: Department of Oncology, Tom Baker Cancer Centre, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB.
authors: V C
authors: VC
authors: Tam
authors: Division of Hematology and Oncology, Sunnybrook Odette Cancer Centre, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON.
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Berry
authors: Division of Medical Oncology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON.
authors: T
authors: T
authors: Hsu
authors: Department of Oncology, Cross Cancer Institute, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB.
authors: S
authors: S
authors: North
authors: Department of Oncology, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON.
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Neville
authors: Division of Hematology and Oncology, Sunnybrook Odette Cancer Centre, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON. ; Division of Medical Oncology and Hematology, Princess Margaret Hospital, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON.
authors: K
authors: K
authors: Chan
authors: Division of Hematology and Oncology, Sunnybrook Odette Cancer Centre, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON.
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Verma
keywords: Canada; Oncology education; postgraduate medical programs; undergraduate medical programs