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Bridging Gaps in Oncology Nutrition Education and Teaching: A Comprehensive Analysis of Resident Physicians in China

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Abstract

Residents are actively involved in patient assessment and all aspects of patient care, and they are critical in providing nutritional support education and treatment for patients with cancer. This study aims to assess the nutritional knowledge and performance of resident physicians, providing insights into existing gaps in awareness and practices related to cancer nutrition. A total of 300 resident physicians undergoing standardized residency training in China participated in this study. An anonymous online questionnaire covering demographic characteristics, nutritional knowledge, clinical practice, and training requirements was designed and administered through the “Wenjuanxing” platform. Data were collected from June 1, 2023, to July 31, 2023. Among the participants, only 40.00% demonstrated adequate knowledge of cancer nutrition, and merely 32.00% exhibited proficient performance in nutritional care. Socio-demographic analysis revealed that residents without affiliations and those specializing in obstetrics and gynecology had superior knowledge, while surgery specialists showed significantly worse performance. Most participants expressed a lack of exposure to cancer nutrition education during academic and standardized residency training. The study highlights the demand for enhanced education and the preference for case-based teaching methods. The findings underscore an urgent need for comprehensive oncology nutrition education within China’s standardized residency training. Targeted interventions and curriculum enhancements are essential to improve medical talent development and enhance patient care outcomes in oncology. The study emphasizes the critical role of practical, case-based teaching methods in addressing identified gaps in nutritional knowledge and practices among resident physicians.

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Funding

This study was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 82103498) and Teaching Reform Project of Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine (No. 20210204 and No. 20210207).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Radiation Oncology (Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Intervention, China National Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology in Medical Sciences, Zhejiang Province, China), The Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China

    Haiyan Chen, Yongjie Shui, Dongjun Dai & Qichun Wei

  2. Cancer Institute (Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Intervention, China National Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology in Medical Sciences, Zhejiang Province, China), The Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine; Zhejiang Provincial Clinical Research Center for CANCER; Cancer Center of Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China

    Haiyan Chen, Yongjie Shui, Yinuo Tan, Dongjun Dai, Liubo Chen, Kai Jiang & Qichun Wei

  3. Department of Medical Oncology (Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Intervention, China National Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology in Medical Sciences Zhejiang Province, China), The Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China

    Yinuo Tan & Liubo Chen

  4. Department of Colorectal Surgery (Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Intervention, China National Ministry of Education, Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology in Medical Sciences, Zhejiang Province, China), The Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China

    Kai Jiang

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  1. Haiyan Chen
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  2. Yongjie Shui
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  4. Dongjun Dai
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Correspondence to Haiyan Chen or Qichun Wei.

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Chen, H., Shui, Y., Tan, Y. et al. Bridging Gaps in Oncology Nutrition Education and Teaching: A Comprehensive Analysis of Resident Physicians in China. J Canc Educ (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13187-024-02434-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13187-024-02434-9

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