A curriculum in oncology for medical students in Europe

A curriculum in oncology for medical students in Europe is proposed. The proposals are presented with the unanimous approval of the deans of undergraduate medical schools and oncologists from 17 European countries who attended an EC/EORTC Workshop in Bonn in May 1988. The proposals arise as a response to the recognised deficiency of undergraduate cancer education in many medical schools and the pressing need to ensure that newly qualified doctors possess the necessary skills and knowledge to participate in cancer prevention, early diagnosis and curative and palliative management. The proposals concern both basic science and clinical practice, stressing the need for bedside teaching, instruction in the multi-disciplinary nature of cancer care and the elimination of bias towards particular disciplines. To achieve the objectives it is proposed that each medical school shall have an undergraduate teaching programme in oncology. A detailed prescription for an undergraduate curriculum is not attempted but rather a frame-work provided that should be adopted regardless of national and local differences in medical educational practice.