Evaluation of pediatric oncology objectives developed by the American Association for Cancer Education

Educational objectives in pediatric oncology for medical students developed at the Fall, 1981 meeting of the American Association for Cancer Education (AACE) were reviewed. These six terminal (general) and 40 enabling (specific) objectives were converted into 130 statements which were ranked from essential (rank 5) to not required (rank 0). The 58 pediatric oncology respondents gave broad support to the AACE pediatric oncology objectives. Primary importance was given to medical students knowing to refer pediatric malignancies. Principles of therapy, psychosocial management, management of infection, and complications during long term surveillance ranked high. Objectives were not ranked differently when related to number of new pediatric patients seen, type of hospital, or whether the institution had a core undergraduate pediatric training site. The list of terminal, enabling and supplemental pediatric oncology objectives developed by AACE appears valid for inclusion in the core curriculum of medical students.