Abstract
Background. Managing patients with head and neck (HN) cancer requires specific clinical skills and an understanding of multidisciplinary treatment. A HN oncology workshop (HNOW) was developed to teach residents these principles. Methods. Twenty‐one residents, eight patients, and 11 faculty participated in a three‐hour HNOW composed of 12 15‐minute stations. Pairs of residents spoke with and examined patients (six actual cancer patients). Expert faculty provided feedback and instruction. All participants rated aspects of the HNOW using a five‐point scale. Before and after the workshop, the residents completed a 13‐item self‐assessment of their HN clinical skills. Results. Residents, faculty, and patients rated the HNOW highly. Residents’ self‐assessments improved from a mean of 2.32 ("not competent") before the HNOW to a mean of 3.36 ("competent"). Conclusions. 1) Residents’ HN clinical skills are deficient. 2) The HNOW is an intensive, interactive format for teaching both clinical skills and a multidisciplinary approach to the HN cancer patient. 3) Residents’ HN clinical skills significantly improved as a result of this novel HNOW.