Undergraduate oncology education in Scandinavia

An overview of undergraduate education in general oncology in 18 medical schools in Scandinavia demonstrated that insufficient resources were allocated to this activity, and that there was a lack of integrated multidisciplinary educational activities. Further, there was a lack of clear consensus about the contents of a curriculum in oncology. To remedy this situation a minimal list of recommendations is suggested for the undergraduate education in oncology in Scandinavia. The main points are: (1) a better coordination of the curriculum in general oncology with the curricula of other specialty disciplines, (2) a two-week period of clinical clerkship in the department of general oncology early in the study, (3) a two-week concentrated course in general oncology late in the study, (4) a final knowledge test, and (5) adequate funding of cancer educators.