Postgraduate teaching-learning pattern for radiation oncology students in India - A survey-based analysis

Teaching and training in Radiation Oncology is only at postgraduate level with 8-10 hours of theory sessions during undergraduate course. Uniform training during the post-graduation course across the country is a major challenge as many new concepts are introduced.

This study is an effort to look into various aspects of training in terms of teaching-learning and assessment. In addition, we aim to look into innovative methods that can be implemented across the country.

This is a survey-based analysis.

Postgraduate teaching institutes in Radiation Oncology were obtained from the National Medical Council and National Board of Examination websites. A questionnaire was created with Google form and sent to the heads of departments across the country. The data were entered on a spreadsheet and the responses were analyzed using Microsoft Excel sheet.

Thirty-five out of 87 institutes responded out of which 40% were government institutes. Twenty-six (74%) offered MD seats with 14 (40%) having less than five teachers and 13 (37.14%) with 5-10 teachers. With uniform teaching learning method across the country, there was wide variation in formative assessment patterns. There was consensus regarding inadequate exposure in research methodology and statistics.

There is uniformity in teaching learning methods with differing patterns of formative assessment. Innovative methods focusing on affective and skill domains with competency-based medical education will help in bringing out a competent radiation oncologist.