ESTRO 2024 - Abstract Book

S2689

Interdisciplinary - Education in radiation therapy

ESTRO 2024

the MSc specialty, financial support and completion of the practical stage. To our knowledge, the proportion of OR residents taking an MSc, their motivation and difficulties have never been evaluated.

Material/Methods:

A cross-sectional survey was conducted by the Societe Nationale des Jeunes Oncologues Radiotherapeutes (SFjRO), and reviewed by the Canceropole Ile de France, the Conseil National des Enseignants en Oncologie (CNEC) and the Societe Francaise des Oncologues Radiotherapeutes (SFRO). Questions focused on the MSc's modalities, financing and problems encountered. The survey was carried out via e-mail to residents and RO physicians between June and August 2023. Univariate and bivariate analyses by gender were performed.

Results:

175 responses were obtained from 125 RO residents and 50 RO post-resident physicians. An MSc had been passed by 24% of the total population and 13% in the sub-group of French RO residents. More than half had completed at least the first year of the MSc. To complete the 2nd year, 69% took six months or a year off from their medical studies. The MSc completed by ROs mainly related to biology/radiobiology (33%), artificial intelligence/radiomics (22%) and physics/radiophysics (15%). The MSc was located in the capital region, Paris/Ile-de-France, for 49% of them. Obtaining a new skill was the main motivation (76%), followed by access to a job (14%). With regard to practical training in science, 16% reported integration problems. Grants were the main source of financial support (57%), followed by university clinical activity (29%) and medical replacement (12%). The possibility of not taking a year off from the medical curriculum was the most cited improvement (42%). Other improvements were easier financial support (25%) and more information available (18%). No difference was found between men and women regarding completion of the MSc (22% for men vs. 25% for women, CI 95% 0.5-2.5; p=0.7), continuation of medical studies (33% for men vs. 29% for women, IC95% 0.2-3.8, p=0.8) and financial arrangements (grants 61% for men vs. 54% for women, clinical activity 33% vs. 25%, p=0.7). The time of internship was significantly different (respectively before, during and after internship, 6% for men vs. 17% for women, 81% vs. 46%, 11% vs. 38% p=0.04). Seventy-four percent of ROs who completed an MSc recommended it.

Conclusion:

The percentage of RO residents doing an MSc remains low. The MSc most preferred by ROs was biology/radiobiology, and this training was generally carried out during the 2nd year of residency, necessitating 6 months to 1 year's interruption of residency. The desire for an academic career was not the main reason for doing an MSc. No gender differences were found in this study. Grants played an extremely important role in financial support. This work will help provide centralized information, recommendations and grants available to RO residents concerning MSc.

Keywords: master of science, RO training, gender

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