Long-term results of radiation oncology seminar for medical students and residents held between 1995 and 2011: career paths of the participants

• Published in: Japanese journal of radiology Vol. 31; no. 11; pp. 755 - 759
• Main Authors: Tamaki, Yukihisa, Itazawa, Tomoko, Okabe, Tomoyuki, Toda, Kazuma, Abe, Eisuke, Nakamura, Satoaki, Inomata, Taisuke
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Tokyo Springer Japan 01.11.2013; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Adult; Brachytherapy - methods; Female; Health Surveys; Humans; Imaging; Internship and Residency - statistics & numerical data; Japan - epidemiology; Male; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Neoplasms - radiotherapy; Nuclear Medicine; Original Article; Radiation Oncology - education; Radiation Oncology - manpower; Radiology; Radiotherapy; Specialty Boards; Students, Medical - statistics & numerical data; Surveys and Questionnaires; Time Factors; Japan; Medical students; Affiliation rate of JRS and JASTRO; Board-certified radiation oncologist; Radiation oncology seminar; Residents
• ISSN: 1867-1071; 1867-108X
• DOI: 10.1007/s11604-013-0251-3

Purpose The radiation oncology seminar for medical students and residents was initiated by the Japanese Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology (JASTRO) with the aim of increasing the numbers of radiation oncologists. We investigated the long-term results related to the career paths of the program participants. Methods This study enrolled 531 individuals who were medical students and residents at the time of program participation, between 1995 and 2011. We surveyed participants with regard to their affiliation status with the Japan Radiological Society (JRS) and JASTRO and whether they were board-certified radiation oncologists. Results Forty-two percent of the participants were members of JRS and 26.4 % were members of JASTRO. The membership status with JASTRO was investigated in program participants from 2004 to 2009, and comparison by status revealed that 30.1 % of medical students and 47.2 % of residents were members, with a significant difference ( p  = 0.013). As high as 92.3 % of the participants in the 1995–2001 cohort who had joined JRS and JASTRO were board-certified radiation oncologists. Conclusion This program has greatly contributed to increasing the numbers of radiation oncologists. Because residents had a higher rate of affiliation than medical students, it is necessary to share information with not only medical universities, but also teaching hospitals.