Assessing Clinical Competence in Radiation Oncology Education

Abstract

Radiotherapy is the clinical modality dealing with the use of ionizing radiation in the treatment of patients with malignant neoplasia and occasionally non-malignant disease. The current scope of practice of radiation oncology demands that residents be trained in areas such as systemic therapies, toxicity of combined-modality therapy, treatment of non-malignant disease, new and emerging technologies, principles of quality assurance, palliative and supportive care and multidisciplinarity. Recent trends in medical education demand the inclusion of disciplines and competencies not taught as recently as a few years ago. These include competencies such as principles of management, basics of medical research, interpersonal and communication skills and professionalism. Contemporary medical practice has determined that postgraduate training is moving from emphasis on knowledge only to a spectrum of core competencies on which the education is based. Competencies include knowledge but also skills and attitudes. Radiation oncology training and evaluation is now moving from the traditional knowledge-based focus to training and assessment based on new competencies such as clinical skills, attitudes, beliefs, management, communication and professionalism.