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Development and evaluation of a six-day training program in supportive oncology research

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  28 December 2017

William F. Pirl Open the ORCID record for William F. Pirl [Opens in a new window] ,
Joseph A. Greer ,
Elyse Park ,
Steven A. Safren ,
Lauren Fields ,
Lisa Wood ,
Lara Traeger ,
Areej El-Jawahri ,
Bradley Zebrack  and
Jennifer S. Temel
William F. Pirl*
Affiliation:
Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, Miami, FL Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL
Joseph A. Greer
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
Elyse Park
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
Steven A. Safren
Affiliation:
Department of Psychology, School of Arts and Sciences, University of Miami, Miami, FL
Lauren Fields
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA
Lisa Wood
Affiliation:
Department of Nursing, MGH Institute for Health Professions, Boston, MA
Lara Traeger
Affiliation:
Department of Psychiatry, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
Areej El-Jawahri
Affiliation:
Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA Department of Hematology and Oncology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA
Bradley Zebrack
Affiliation:
School of Social Work, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
Jennifer S. Temel
Affiliation:
Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA Department of Hematology and Oncology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA
*
Author for correspondence: William Pirl, Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, 1475 NW 12th Avenue, Suite C021, Miami, FL 33136. E-mail: wfp14@med.miami.edu
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Abstract

Objective

Early career investigators have few opportunities for targeted training in supportive oncology research. To address this need, we developed, implemented, and evaluated an intensive, six-day workshop on methods in supportive oncology research for trainees and junior faculty across multiple disciplines.

Method

A multidisciplinary team of supportive oncology researchers developed a workshop patterned after the clinical trials workshop offered jointly by the American Society of Clinical Oncology and American Association of Cancer Research. The curriculum included lectures and a mentored experience of writing a research protocol. Each year since 2015, the workshop has accepted and trained 36 early career investigators. Over the course of the workshop, participants present sections of their research protocols daily in small groups led by senior researchers, and have dedicated time to write and revise these sections. Primary outcomes for the workshop included the frequency of completed protocols by the end of the workshop, a pre- and posttest assessing participant knowledge, and follow-up surveys of the participants and their primary mentors.

Result

Over three years, the workshop received 195 applications; 109 early career researchers were competitively selected to participate. All participants (109/109, 100%) completed writing a protocol by the end of their workshop. Participants and their primary mentors reported significant improvements in their research knowledge and skills. Each year, participants rated the workshop highly in terms of satisfaction, value, and likelihood of recommending it to a colleague. One year after the first workshop, most respondents (29/30, 96.7%) had either submitted their protocol or written at least one other protocol.

Significance of results

We developed a workshop on research methods in supportive oncology. More early career investigators applied for the workshop than capacity, and the workshop was fully attended each year. Both the workshop participants and their primary mentors reported improvement in research skills and knowledge.

Keywords

Supportive oncologyresearcheducation
Type
Original Article
Information
Palliative & Supportive Care , Volume 16 , Issue 6 , December 2018 , pp. 656 - 661
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2017 

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