title: The pediatric hematology/oncology educational laboratory in-training examination (PHOELIX): A formative evaluation of laboratory skills for Canadian pediatric hematology/oncology trainees.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Pediatric hematologists/oncologists need to be skilled clinicians, and must also be adept and knowledgeable in relevant areas of laboratory medicine. Canadian training programs in this subspecialty have a minimum requirement for 6 months of training in acquiring "relevant laboratory diagnostic skills." The Canadian pediatric hematology/oncology (PHO) national specialty society, C17, recognized the need for an assessment method in laboratory skills for fellows graduating from PHO training programs.
  
  
  METHODS
  Canadian pediatric hematologists/oncologists were surveyed regarding what were felt to be the essential laboratory-related knowledge and skills deemed necessary for graduating pediatric hematology/oncology trainees. The PHOELIX (Pediatric hematology/oncology educational laboratory in-training examination) was then developed to provide an annual formative evaluation of laboratory skills in Canadian PHO trainees.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The majority of PHO respondents (89%) felt that laboratory skills are important in clinical practice. An annual formative examination including review of glass slides was implemented starting in 2010; this provides feedback regarding knowledge of laboratory medicine to both trainees and program directors (PDs).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We have successfully created a formative examination that can be used to evaluate and educate trainees, as well as provide PDs with a tool to gauge the effectiveness of their laboratory training curriculum. Feedback has been positive from both trainees and PDs.
authors.affiliation: Division of Hematology and Transfusion Medicine, Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Elaine
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Leung
authors.affiliation: Division of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology/Bone Marrow Transplant, BC Children's Hospital, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Dix
authors.affiliation: Division of Hematopathology, Sidra Medical and Research Center, Doha, Qatar.
authors.forename: Jason
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ford
authors.affiliation: IWK Health Center, Nova Scotia IWK Health Center, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada.
authors.forename: Dorothy
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Barnard
authors.affiliation: Division of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario and Department of Pediatrics, Montfort Hospital and University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: Eileen
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: McBride
mesh_terms: D002170:Canada; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D019411:Clinical Laboratory Techniques; D004502:Education, Medical, Continuing; D005260:Female; D006405:Hematology / Q000193:education*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D017056:Medical Laboratory Personnel / Q000193:education*; D008495:Medical Oncology / Q000193:education*
keywords: curriculum development; education; hematological pathology; pediatric oncology; skills assessment