Exploring implementation of the ESTRO Core Curriculum at the national level

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Curriculum Development
• Radiation Oncology Training

Background:

• Global medical curricula are common, but implementation factors remain unclear.
• Understanding these factors is crucial for successful curriculum rollout.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify perceived factors influencing the implementation of the ESTRO Core Curriculum.
• To analyze barriers at contextual, process, and curriculum change levels.

Main Methods:

• Anonymous 37-item survey distributed to Presidents of National Societies endorsing the ESTRO Core Curriculum.
• Data collected on perceptions of implementation factors.
• Descriptive statistics used for data summarization.

Main Results:

• 90% of National Societies responded, indicating widespread endorsement.
• Key barriers identified: lack of government support (57%), insufficient faculty (44%), poor coordination (48%), and lack of leadership (44%).
• Funding and assessment tools were also cited as curriculum change barriers.

Conclusions:

• The ESTRO Core Curriculum's content and values are globally accepted.
• Implementation barriers exist at organizational and systems levels.
• Addressing faculty shortages, coordination issues, and leadership needs is vital for successful implementation.