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Making Radiation Oncology specialty more attractive to young medical graduates: pulling back the invisibility curtain

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Abstract

Purpose

Radiation Oncology is one of the least-known medical specialties for young graduates at the end of their studies. An in-depth analysis of the strengths and weaknesses of the Radiation Oncology visibility, the training plan, and why it is less attractive for new medical residents during the last years appears as the initial need to turn out this lack of knowledge.

Materials and Methods

An anonymous pilot survey of 24 questions addressed to specialists in-training in Radiation Oncology in Spain during August and September of 2022.

Results

A total of 50 in-training radiation oncologists answered the questionnaire and 90% of them believe that a lack of knowledge, mainly at the School of Medicine, was a major reason why choosing Radiation Oncology was unattractive. All responders were satisfied by choosing Radiation Oncology, and 76% were in favor of extending the residency to 5 years to improve their training. Research activity was considered essential (78%) to complete their training.

Conclusion

Increasing the presence of Radiation Oncology at the School of Medicine may be one solution to achieve greater attractiveness among future residents. Likewise, extending the training period to five years could help to enhance the learning of all radiotherapy techniques while promoting clinical research.

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Acknowledgements

We thank the 50 residents of Radiation Oncology that have contributed to this study with their filled questionnaires.

Funding

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Radiation Oncology, University Hospital Virgen del Rocío, Biomedical Institute of Seville (IBIS)/CSIC/University of Seville, Seville, Spain

    Elías Gomis Sellés

  2. Department of Radiation Oncology, HM Hospitales, Universidad Camilo José Cela, Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Madrid, Spain

    Angel Montero

  3. Department of Radiation Oncology, Institut d’Investigació Sanitària Pere Virgili, Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Facultat de Medicina i Ciències de la Salut, Hospital Universitari de Sant Joan, 43204, Reus, Spain

    Meritxell Arenas

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  1. Elías Gomis Sellés
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Correspondence to Elías Gomis Sellés.

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Gomis Sellés, E., Montero, A. & Arenas, M. Making Radiation Oncology specialty more attractive to young medical graduates: pulling back the invisibility curtain. Clin Transl Oncol 25, 3312–3318 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12094-023-03257-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12094-023-03257-8

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