Aim: To identify key learning topics within gynae-oncology as prioritized by oncology trainees and senior clinicians. To design and implement an online spaced education program (“Qstream”) for dissemination of specialized gynae-oncology cases to medical oncology advanced trainees.
Methods: A three-round Delphi process was conducted to obtain consensus on key learning topics. In the first iteration, an open-ended questionnaire was sent to 3 senior clinicians and 16 oncology trainees who had completed their rotation in gynae-oncology at Westmead Hospital. In the second iteration, the same participants were asked to rank the topics obtained in the first round according to their relevance for oncology trainees. The top-ranked learning topics were used in a third iteration to design case-based multiple-choice questions.
Results: The response rates in the first and second round of the Delphi process were 10/19 (53%) and 11/19 (58%) respectively. 58 topics were identified. The top-ranked topics included the role of surgery in ovarian cancer, routes/dosing of chemotherapy in ovarian cancer, treatment of recurrent ovarian cancer, staging and first-line management of cervical cancer, treatment of gestational trophoblastic disease, CA125 criteria and pitfalls, treatment of advanced endometrial cancer and palliative care in gynae-oncology. 19 case-based multiple choice questions have been developed for implementation in an online spaced education program.
Conclusions: This study has identified a core set of learning topics relevant to oncology trainees in their practice of gynae-oncology, and has demonstrated the willingness of trainees to be involved in the development of an educational program for their peers. The large number of identified topics will necessitate the continuous development of new cases. The feasibility of the program will be assessed amongst medical oncology trainees at Westmead Hospital, before its dissemination beyond our network and extension across other tumour streams is considered.