Table 2 Views on oncology: responses from the national survey (n = 166) as well as both pre- and post-conference questionnaires (n = 34)
Question | National surveya | Pre-conferencea | p-valuec | Post-conferencea | p-valued |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
How would you rate your interest in oncologyb | |||||
prior to entering medical school? | 2.7 ± 1.1 | 3.4 ± 1.6 | 0.0044 | ||
at this point in time? | 3.1 ± 1.2 | 4.0 ± 0.9 | < 0.0001 | ||
How likely are you to pursue a career in oncology? | 2.7 ± 1.1 | 3.1 ± 1.2 | 0.0322 | 3.9 ± 0.8 | < 0.0001 |
Rate your interest in the following oncology career pathways | |||||
Clinical research (e.g. clinical trials) | 2.9 ± 1.3 | 3.6 ± 1.2 | 0.0044 | 3.8 ± 1.0 | < 0.0001 |
Scientific research (e.g. laboratory, pre-clinical) | 2.3 ± 1.3 | 3.2 ± 1.0 | < 0.0001 | 3.5 ± 1.1 | < 0.0001 |
Clinical oncology | 3.4 ± 1.1 | 3.5 ± 1.1 | 3.8 ± 0.9 | ||
Medical oncology | 3.5 ± 1.1 | 3.6 ± 1.0 | 3.7 ± 1.1 | ||
Surgical oncology | 2.8 ± 1.3 | 3.2 ± 1.3 | 3.4 ± 1.3 | 0.0173* | |
Palliative care | 2.9 ± 1.3 | 2.6 ± 1.3 | 2.8 ± 1.3 | ||
Rate how much you agree with the following statements | |||||
Oncology is a challenging specialty. | 4.5 ± 0.7 | 4.1 ± 1.0 | 0.0171 | 4.1 ± 0.7 | 0.0051 |
If I were an oncologist, I am afraid that I would be overly sensitive. | 3.3 ± 1.2 | 3.1 ± 1.0 | 2.9 ± 1.0 | 0.0494* | |
If I were an oncologist, I am afraid that I would be too thick-skinned. | 2.2 ± 1.0 | 2.1 ± 1.0 | 2.0 ± 0.7 | ||
If I were an oncologist, I feel like I would be able to cope with the emotional challenges in this field. | 3.2 ± 1.0 | 3.3 ± 0.8 | 3.8 ± 0.7 | 0.0058 | |
I am overall optimistic about cancer as a whole. | 3.1 ± 1.0 | 3.4 ± 1.2 | 3.7 ± 1.0 | 0.0015* | |
I am overall pessimistic about cancer as a whole. | 2.7 ± 1.0 | 2.3 ± 1.1 | 0.0232 | 2.1 ± 1.0 | 0.0035 |
Rate how much knowledge or exposure you have had in the following aspects of oncology | |||||
Career and specialty training pathway | 1.9 ± 1.0 | 2.5 ± 1.2 | 0.0070 | 3.4 ± 1.0 | < 0.0001 |
Patient pathway (from diagnosis to treatment to recovery) | 2.8 ± 1.2 | 3.4 ± 1.1 | 0.0201 | 3.9 ± 1.0 | < 0.0001 |
Patient experience and views | 3.0 ± 1.1 | 3.1 ± 1.0 | 4.0 ± 1.0 | < 0.0001 | |
Types of cancer research and how they are carried out | 2.1 ± 1.1 | 2.7 ± 1.1 | 0.0052 | 3.6 ± 1.0 | < 0.0001 |
Understanding of the different multi-disciplinary members and their roles in the cancer pathway | 3.1 ± 1.3 | 3.6 ± 1.1 | 4.0 ± 0.8 | 0.0001 | |
Rate your confidence in the following | |||||
Communicating with a cancer patient | 3.0 ± 1.1 | 3.0 ± 1.0 | 3.8 ± 0.8 | < 0.0001 | |
Speaking about death and dying with a cancer patient | 2.3 ± 1.1 | 2.1 ± 1.1 | 3.0 ± 1.0 | 0.0005 | |
Identifying skin cancer lesions | 2.4 ± 1.2 | 1.7 ± 0.9 | 0.0017 | 3.3 ± 0.8 | < 0.0001 |
Knowledge of the organisation and important aspects that govern clinical trial research | 2.1 ± 1.1 | 2.3 ± 1.1 | 3.6 ± 1.1 | < 0.0001 | |
How to build your CV towards a career in oncology | 1.8 ± 1.0 | 2.3 ± 0.8 | < 0.0001 | 3.6 ± 1.1 | < 0.0001 |
Knowledge of the role of interventional radiology in diagnosing and treating cancer | 2.4 ± 1.1 | 2.4 ± 1.1 | 3.8 ± 1.0 | < 0.0001 |