Continuity clinics in oncology training programs in Canada.

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Oncology
• Clinical Practice

Background:

• Continuity clinics (CCs) offer trainees longitudinal patient follow-up and semi-autonomous practice opportunities.
• Data on the utility of CCs in Canadian oncology training programs are limited.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the utility of continuity clinics in Canadian oncology training programs.
• To evaluate the perspectives of program directors, trainees, and patients on CCs.

Main Methods:

• Surveys were distributed electronically to medical and radiation oncology program directors and trainees.
• Patient attitudes toward CCs were assessed via surveys at The Ottawa Hospital Cancer Centre.
• Data were collected using SurveyMonkey and analyzed to determine participation rates and opinions.

Main Results:

• 37% of trainees and 47% of program directors reported participation in CCs.
• 80% of respondents deemed CCs "important" or "very important" for training.
• Lack of clinic space was the primary challenge; patients desired more trainee supervision than anticipated.

Conclusions:

• Continuity clinics are perceived as beneficial for oncology training by program directors and trainees.
• Patient desire for increased trainee supervision in CCs is a key factor for implementation.
• Balancing trainee autonomy with adequate patient supervision is crucial in CCs.