Enhancing Clinical Competencies Through Peer Role-Play in Oncology Graduate Students: Mixed Methods Study.

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Oncology Training
• Clinical Skills Development

Background:

• Clinical competency is crucial for oncology students.
• Traditional methods may not fully develop communication, empathy, and clinical judgment.
• Peer role-play shows promise in enhancing these skills.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate peer role-play's effectiveness in developing oncology graduate students' clinical competencies during rotations.

Main Methods:

• 70 oncology graduate students were randomized into peer role-play or traditional teaching groups.
• The role-play group had structured sessions including case presentations and weekly role-plays with feedback.
• Assessments included theory exams, clinical competency evaluations, and satisfaction surveys.

Main Results:

• The peer role-play group showed significant improvements in communication, history taking, and clinical judgment (P<.05).
• Students in the role-play group reported high satisfaction with scenario realism and feedback.
• Baseline competencies and theory exam scores were comparable between groups.

Conclusions:

• Peer role-play is an effective educational strategy for developing key clinical competencies in oncology graduate students.
• It enhances communication, empathy, and clinical reasoning, crucial for patient-centered care.
• Role-play offers an engaging and practical addition to oncology clinical training programs.