S1325
Interdisciplinary - Education in radiation oncology
ESTRO 206
educator expertise, resources and the key role of leadership; and (4) Delivery Methods: How Best to Teach GO- the value of experiential, interdisciplinary and blended education interventions to embed GO principles in real-world clinical practice. These four themes and associated subthemes are represented in Figure 1. Participant characterstics are outlined in Table 1.
Dubois L, et al. Professional development through mentoring: Final evaluation of the pilot mentoring program of the European society of radiotherapy and oncology. Radiother Oncol. 2024;195:110226. Keywords: Mentorship, Education, Lung Radiotherapy
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Global Expert Perspectives on Geriatric Radiation Oncology Education: Current Practice and Future Directions Lucinda Morris 1,2 , Sandra Turner 2,3 , Jane Philips 1,4 , Meera Agar 1 1 Improving Palliative, Aged and Chronic Care through Clinical Research and Translation (IMPACCT), University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, Australia. 2 Western Sydney Radiation Oncology Network, Westmead Hospital, Sydney, Australia. 3 Sydney Medical School, The University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia. 4 Faculty of Health, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Australia Purpose/Objective: Geriatric oncology (GO) remains underrepresented in radiation oncology (RO) training, despite the rapidly growing proportion of older adults with cancer. This qualitative study explored the range of factors perceived to impact the current and future delivery of optimal post graduate geriatric RO education. Material/Methods: 10 semi-structured interviews were conducted with leading RO education experts from 8 focus countries. Participants were selected using predefined eligibility criteria identifying them as global education experts holding recognised leadership positions in the peak organisation(s) responsible for RO post graduate specialty training in their region. The key domains explored in interviews were 1) Participants views of the importance and/or need for improved geriatric RO education 2) Perceived barriers and facilitators of optimal delivery of GO focused education 3) Participant views on the optimal delivery of geriatric RO content. Audio recordings of interviews were transcribed and analysed thematically using NVivo. The study was conducted in accordance with Kern's Model of Curriculum Development, in particular the Needs Assessment and Education Strategies phases of evidence-based curriculum design methodology. Results: From the interviews, four key themes emerged: (1) Older Adults: The Silent Majority- highlighting the importance but limited awareness and formal education of GO; (2) Curriculum Design and Structural Constraints- defining structural and logistical challenges within crowded training programs; (3) Systemic Barriers and Enablers- focused on limited
Conclusion: These expert perspectives reveal important insights and strategies for strengthening GO education in RO, including curriculum reform, faculty development, and innovative delivery approaches. These findings offer practical direction for RO training programs in developing curricula and expertise needed to ensure future radiation oncologists are equipped to meet the unique needs of an ageing cancer population. Keywords: geriatric oncology, education, post graduate
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