Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 9, 2026
09:15
Experimental Melanoma Immunotherapy Model Using Tumor Vaccination with a Hematopoietic Cytokine
Published on: February 24, 2023
3.8K
Implementation and Evaluation of a Cancer Immunotherapy Elective for Medical Students: A Mixed-Methods Descriptive
Mark Raynor1, Rivers Hock1, Brandon Godinich1
1Department of Medical Education, Foster School of Medicine, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center El Paso, 130 Rick Francis, El, US.
JMIR Medical Education
|December 4, 2025
Summary
An online cancer immunotherapy elective improved medical students' knowledge and confidence in clinical preparedness. The flexible, hybrid format enhanced understanding of complex mechanisms and real-world applications.
Area of Science:
- Medical Education
- Oncology
- Immunology
Background:
- Cancer immunotherapy is a vital oncology advancement but underrepresented in medical education.
- A gap exists in integrating foundational immunology with clinical immunotherapy applications.
- An online elective was developed to address this educational deficit for fourth-year medical students.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate an online cancer immunotherapy elective's effectiveness on student knowledge, engagement, and critical thinking.
- To assess perceived improvements in knowledge and clinical preparedness.
- To inform future medical curriculum integration of cancer immunotherapy.
Main Methods:
- A mixed-methods study of a two-week online elective for fourth-year medical students.
- Included self-paced modules, online discussions, and a capstone presentation.
- Pre- and post-course quizzes and anonymous surveys assessed knowledge and perceptions.
Main Results:
- Students reported highly positive course evaluations (median 5/Strongly Agree).
- Post-course quiz scores were descriptively higher than pre-course scores.
- Thematic analysis revealed increased confidence, appreciation for the hybrid model, and enhanced clinical application understanding.
Conclusions:
- A targeted online cancer immunotherapy elective can enhance perceived knowledge and critical thinking.
- The hybrid online structure offers flexibility, accessibility, and scalability for medical curricula.
- This model provides a promising framework for integrating emerging cancer therapies into medical education.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
01:27Tumor Immunotherapy
1.7K
Immunotherapy is a treatment that boosts or manipulates the immune system to fight diseases, including cancer. For instance, by stimulating an immune response through vaccinations against viruses that cause cancers, like hepatitis B virus and human papillomavirus, these diseases can be prevented. Nonetheless, some cancer cells can avoid the immune system due to their rapid mutation and division. The immune response to many cancers involves three phases: elimination, equilibrium, and escape.
1.7K
01:30Cancer Vaccines
932
Cancer treatment vaccines are a rapidly evolving field that offers a promising approach to immunotherapy. Unlike traditional vaccines that prevent diseases, cancer treatment vaccines are designed to treat existing cancers by stimulating the immune system to recognize and attack cancer cells.
Cancer vaccines come in two categories: preventive (prophylactic) and treatment (active). Preventive vaccines, such as the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine, protect against viruses that cause certain...
Cancer vaccines come in two categories: preventive (prophylactic) and treatment (active). Preventive vaccines, such as the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine, protect against viruses that cause certain...
932
01:21Cancer Survival Analysis
630
Cancer survival analysis focuses on quantifying and interpreting the time from a key starting point, such as diagnosis or the initiation of treatment, to a specific endpoint, such as remission or death. This analysis provides critical insights into treatment effectiveness and factors that influence patient outcomes, helping to shape clinical decisions and guide prognostic evaluations. A cornerstone of oncology research, survival analysis tackles the challenges of skewed, non-normally...
630