Journal of Cancer Education最新文献

Precision oncology in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) depends on biomarker testing and access to targeted therapies. However, disparities in testing and treatment highlight critical educational needs for patients, providers, and health systems. Using the NIH All of Us Research Program (2017-2022), we identified 287 patients with advanced NSCLC who received first-line carboplatin-based chemotherapy or targeted therapy. Social determinants of health (SDoH) including education, employment, retirement, and disability were evaluated as predictors of biomarker testing and targeted therapy receipt. Only 18% of patients had documented biomarker testing despite 45% minority representation in the All of Us cohort. Patients with any college education had significantly higher odds of receiving targeted therapy (OR 2.43, 95% CI 1.23-4.97), while retired patients were less likely to receive targeted therapy (OR 0.35, 95% CI 0.18-0.68). Disability was associated with increased biomarker testing (OR 2.82, 95% CI 1.19-6.51). Although TTD was longer for targeted therapies, incomplete biomarker documentation limited interpretation of outcomes. Findings underscore the need for enhanced cancer education strategies to improve biomarker literacy, guideline adherence, and equitable access to targeted therapy. Educational outreach should focus on retirees and patients with lower educational attainment, while provider training and system-level improvements are needed to strengthen precision oncology delivery.

As cancer incidence rises globally, there is a growing need for medical schools to engage students in oncology education and how social determinants of health (SDH) influence cancer risk, treatment, and outcomes. Integrating SDH into oncology curricula will prepare students to deliver equitable, patient-centered cancer care. At a U.S. medical school, a four-week pilot Oncology Summer Internship (OSI) was implemented in 2022 and 2023 for rising second-year medical students. In 2024, the OSI was revised to incorporate a stronger focus on SDH. This study used a mixed-methods approach to evaluate the impact of the SDH-focused OSI. Pre- and post-program survey data were collected from thirteen students, including five who participated in the SDH iteration of the internship. Participants rated understandings of oncology with a 5-point Likert scale. Students in the SDH internship were also asked to rate knowledge of SDH in cancer and describe socioeconomic challenges of cancer. Quantitative data was analyzed with Wilcoxon signed rank tests and qualitative data was coded and thematically analyzed. Quantitative analysis demonstrated increased understandings of the field of oncology, such as its training pathways (p = 0.001). Among participants of the SDH-focused program, responses related to SDH did not reveal any significant differences pre- and post-program. Upon qualitative analysis of descriptions of socioeconomic challenges, themes on the importance of SDH in cancer care and reference of SDH factors emerged. Responses revealed an increase in instances that participants mentioned a SDH (14 pre- vs. 22.5 post-survey). Overall, this pilot OSI enhanced students' understanding of oncology and offered deeper insight into the impact of SDH on cancer care.

Having an unsupportive culture has been identified as a reason that individuals leave the biomedical field. The purpose of this mixed methods convergent case study was to gain an understanding of how a supportive, mentoring-intensive, National Cancer Institute (NCI)-funded program affected the participating scholars' professional identity and sense of belonging while facilitating their career-advancing accomplishments. This Training Navigation Program at the Fred & Pamela Buffett Cancer Center (FPBCC) provided the group of scholars (which included predominantly predoctoral students but also postdoctoral fellows and early-stage faculty members, and two undergraduate associate members) with support for professional development activities and conference attendance along with networking opportunities and guidance in grant writing, bioinformatics, and appropriate usage of artificial intelligence in cancer research. The survey data and interview/focus group data on the first-year outcomes for the 39 predoctoral students in this Training Navigation Program were collected in parallel, and the results were combined to provide a deeper understanding of the participants' experiences. The results indicated that this program was successful in increasing the students' sense of belonging and professional identity, as well as their achievements in advancing their careers in cancer research.

This study aimed to investigate the publication rate of radiation oncology specialization theses in Türkiye and to identify the factors influencing this rate. This retrospective study examined radiation oncology specialization theses completed between 2003 and 2023 in Türkiye. The data were obtained from the Council of Higher Education Thesis Center, an official national database that archives all postgraduate and specialty theses completed in the country. Publication status was determined by searching the student's name, surname, and thesis title in PubMed, Google Scholar, Web of Science, and ULAKBİM TR Index. Journal indexing categories were defined as follows: SCI-E (Science Citation Index Expanded, indicating international journals indexed in Web of Science Core Collection), ESCI (Emerging Sources Citation Index, representing emerging international journals), and TR Index (Türkiye's National Academic Index for peer-reviewed journals). Among the 277 theses included, 52.3% were published. The mean time to publication was 4.79 ± 3.70 years. Of the 145 published theses, 58.6% were published in SCI-E indexed journals, 24.1% in the TR Index, 12.4% in ESCI, and 4.8% in other peer-reviewed journals. Theses authored by residents who pursued academic careers had a significantly higher publication rate. To our knowledge, this is the first study to examine the publication rate of radiation oncology theses. Our findings indicate that the publication rate in this field is comparatively higher than in other specialties, underscoring the contribution of radiation oncology residents to the scientific literature. These findings highlight the need to strengthen research training and mentorship during residency to support publication productivity.

To systematically evaluate the effectiveness of mindfulness-based nursing interventions (MBNIs) on psychological health outcomes-including depression, anxiety, and quality of life-as well as resilience and educational empowerment among women with gynecologic cancers. This systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted in accordance with PRISMA 2020 guidelines. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) investigating MBNIs among women with gynecologic cancers were systematically identified through PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, Embase, and additional databases up to August 2025. Two reviewers independently extracted data and assessed methodological quality. Pooled standardized mean differences (SMDs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated using a random-effects model. Subgroup analyses were performed by cancer type, and meta-regression analyses examined moderators such as mean age and marital status. Twelve RCTs including 1,228 participants (IG = 634; CG = 594) were eligible. Mindfulness-based interventions showed a tendency to reduce anxiety (SMD=-4.05; 95%CI - 9.19 to 1.09; I²=99.8%), depression (SMD=-2.68; 95%CI - 5.40 to 0.03; I²=99.4%), and fatigue (SMD=-3.38; 95% CI - 7.37 to 0.61; I²=99.2%), though effects were limited by high heterogeneity. Statistically significant improvements were observed in global health status (SMD = 2.62; 95%CI 0.27 to 4.97; I²=98.4%) and selected QOL domains, particularly role functioning (SMD = 0.29; 95%CI 0.13 to 0.44) and emotional functioning after bias correction (SMD = 2.89; 95%CI 0.22 to 5.57). Meta-regression showed that neither age nor marital status significantly moderated results. Mindfulness-based nursing interventions demonstrate potential not only for reducing psychological distress and improving quality of life among women with gynecologic cancers but also for serving as educational frameworks that strengthen self-regulation, resilience, and patient engagement in care. Integrating mindfulness-based education into oncology nursing practice may enhance both patient empowerment and professional development among healthcare providers. Further rigorous trials are warranted to validate these outcomes and define best practices for educational implementation.

The purpose of this study was to describe evaluation outcomes, including reach, satisfaction with training, and strategies to increase uptake of implicit bias training across three cancer centers in Washington, DC. From October 25, 2022, to March 29, 2023, oncology clinicians and staff were asked to complete an implicit bias training and post-training survey. Strategies used to increase training reach included identifying and preparing champions, identifying facilitators and barriers, promoting adaptation, and mandating completion. We quantitatively assessed satisfaction with training and self-reported learning outcomes and qualitatively explored impact of the training and how implementation strategies affected uptake. We reviewed open-text responses for feedback and insights from learners. At the suggestion of our champions, we pivoted from a five-hour training to a one-hour training to adapt to clinical team availability. The most successful strategies for increasing training uptake included reducing training length and personalized follow-up from institutional champions. One hundred eight of the 163 (66%) invited learners completed the training. Over 94% of learners agreed or strongly agreed that they met the training's three learning objectives: describing implicit bias, providing examples of implicit bias in healthcare settings, and reflecting on one's own biases. Learners' open-ended responses described how training reaffirmed viewpoints for some learners while others became more aware of their biases. Implementing an implicit bias training across multiple care settings was successful in reaching our goal of 100 learners; however, reach varied by setting due to competing priorities and less champion influence at one institution.

A well-trained workforce is essential to advance cancer research and improve patient outcomes. The National Cancer Institute T32 Institutional Research Training Grant programs are designed to cultivate the next generation of cancer researchers through interdisciplinary training. Despite widespread implementation, limited longitudinal evidence exists on the long-term impact of these programs. This study conducted a longitudinal bibliometric evaluation of two NCI-funded T32 programs at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine from 2005 to 2024. Outcomes for T32 participants and matched controls were compared, assessing research productivity, scholarly impact, collaboration, innovation, and sustained funding. Data sources included publication records, citation metrics, patent applications, and federal research grant data. Analyses were performed at 5-, 7-, 10-, and 15-years post-training. T32 participants demonstrated higher research productivity and scholarly impact, particularly during early and mid-career stages. Significant advantages were observed in publication output, h-index, and field-weighted citation impact during the first 10 years post-training. T32 participants were more likely to secure federal funding and produce highly cited publications and patents, indicating stronger translational influence. However, group differences diminished by 15 years post-training. No significant differences were found in collaboration metrics between groups. NCI T32 training programs provide measurable early-career benefits in research productivity, scholarly impact, and innovation. These programs promote sustained engagement in cancer research and successful grant acquisition, supporting their role as engines for launching impactful scientific careers. Long-term outcome tracking is essential to optimize training program design and advance the cancer research workforce.

Paraneoplastic neurological syndromes (PNS) represent a rare but clinically significant group of disorders that arise as indirect effects of cancer through immune-mediated mechanisms. They differ from direct tumor invasion, metastasis, or treatment-related toxicity, and often precede cancer diagnosis, making early recognition essential. This review outlines the distinctions between carcinoid syndrome, paraneoplastic endocrine/metabolic syndromes, and PNS, highlighting their clinical relevance in oncology education. We summarize current knowledge on the pathophysiology, clinical spectrum, diagnostic approaches, and management strategies for PNS. Emphasis is placed on their educational value as models for interdisciplinary learning, diagnostic reasoning, and integration of oncology with neurology. Improved awareness among medical trainees and oncologists can enhance early detection, appropriate management, and patient outcomes.

Many hematology/oncology fellows who train at Comprehensive Cancer Centers (CCCs) seek academic careers. However, it is difficult to assess the impact of research conducted during fellowship, as it takes about three years for citation counts to stabilize. Altmetric Score (AS) is an alternative metric with an expedited time to maturity that quantifies article impact via online mentions. We aim to evaluate the academic productivity of these fellows using both traditional and alternative metrics. We compiled a list of heme/onc fellows who graduated In 2025 from each program website. We then performed a PubMed search for articles published by each fellow during their fellowship training. We acquired AS from the Altmetric API database. 545 fellows from 125 US-based programs published a total of 1430 papers (3.39 vs 1.71, p<0.001), with 483 as first author (1.25 vs 0.45, p<0.001), that accrued 7351 citations (19.75 vs 6.04, p<0.001) and an AS of 20614 (58.03 vs 13.80, p<0.001), with an average citation count of 2.74 (3.45 vs 1.89, p=0.002) and average AS of 6.70 (8.89 vs 4.10, p<0.001) for CCC-trained fellows compared to non-CCC-trained fellows. There was no significant difference in effect size between average citation count and average AS (95% confidence interval 0.631-0.951 vs 0.635-0.955). Fellows who trained at CCCs published significantly more total papers, first author papers, and accrued greater total and average citation counts and AS than those who did not. Furthermore, there was no significant difference between the novel, yet more practical, metric of AS and the widely-used citation count in this cohort. Future work can explore the potential for real-world use of AS as a quantifiable measure in academic hiring processes.

Introduction Cancer is becoming a leading cause of death in Latin America, yet oncology training for health professionals remains uneven. This review synthesizes evidence on oncology education for professionals, trainees, and community health workers (CHWs) in Latin American settings to identify gaps and opportunities for improvement. Methods We followed PRISMA 2020. The protocol was developed a priori and registered in PROSPERO (CRD420251108769) after initial screening. Searches covered PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, LILACS, and SciELO. Eligible studies evaluated oncology education for professionals/trainees or CHWs and reported educational or implementation outcomes; patient-only education was excluded. Two reviewers conducted screening, extraction, and risk-of-bias appraisal using an adapted Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. Given heterogeneity, findings were narratively synthesized. Results Nine studies met inclusion criteria, spanning undergraduate, postgraduate/continuing, educator-training, and one secondary-level"pipeline" feasibility setting. Brazil was most represented, with additional work from Puerto Rico, multinational cohorts, and a U.S. border CHW-training context relevant to Latin American populations. Interventions included academic leagues, concept mapping, remote/online modules, train-the-trainer programs, and a regional nurse-educator hub. Several studies reported short-term improvements in knowledge or self-efficacy and high feasibility/acceptability. Most had moderate risk of bias due to non-randomized designs, self-reported outcomes, and short follow-up.Conclusions Published research on oncology education for health professionals in Latin America is limited and heterogeneous. Promising models show feasibility and short-term learning gains, but multicenter comparative evaluations with standardized outcomes, longer follow-up, and attention to implementation and educator capacity are needed to inform scalable, competency-based approaches across the region.