The evolving landscape of medical education in oncology

Abstract

The field of oncology is continuously evolving. The way in which cancer is diagnosed, staged, and managed has changed so much in the last decade, and awareness of the need for a ‘personalized medicine’ approach to patient management is growing. In the age of ‘information overload’ and tight time and budgetary restrictions, medical education plays a key role in ensuring that healthcare professionals involved in the care of patients with cancer are informed of the latest treatment advances and shifts in thinking around optimal patient management. The way in which medical education is targeted, designed, and delivered in the oncology setting has had to evolve in line with the changes in the oncology landscape. This article addresses some of the emerging trends in medical education, particularly those that are key drivers of the way in which medical education is executed in the oncology arena. It explores who is now being targeted through medical education, how medical education is being designed and delivered, whether medical education can be delivered strategically, and what impact tighter regulations and budgetary constraints have had on the way in which medical education can be executed.

Keywords:

• Oncology
• Medical education
• Adult learning styles
• Communication strategy
• Accreditation
• Compliance

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Shanida Nataraja

Shanida Nataraja has, over the last 11 years, had the opportunity to work on a wide range of different medical education, medical communications, public relations and marketing activities in oncology. She is now Editorial and Scientific Director at AXON Communications, where she provides high science, strategic and editorial input into a number of key oncology accounts.