The Almost-Cancer Curriculum: Teaching General Practice/Family Medicine Trainees to Manage Risk-Bearing Findings...

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Primary Care
• Oncology

Background:

• Traditional cancer education covers prevention to palliative care.
• Primary care trainees often manage patients with findings requiring surveillance but not yet cancer.
• These

Purpose of the Study:

• To propose an "Almost-Cancer Curriculum" for general practice and family medicine trainees.
• To equip trainees with skills for managing patients with indeterminate or risk-bearing findings.
• To improve communication, equity, follow-up safety, and patient-centered care in pre-diagnostic cancer contexts.

Main Methods:

• Curriculum development focused on specific skills.
• Emphasis on avoiding binary reassurance and developing "risk grammar".
• Strategies for clarifying surveillance ownership and supporting patient understanding.

Main Results:

• The curriculum targets the management of cancer-related uncertainty before diagnosis.
• Aims to enhance trainees' ability to handle complex patient communication.
• Focuses on continuity of care for patients with findings requiring surveillance.

Conclusions:

• Managing "almost-cancer" encounters is crucial in primary care.
• The proposed curriculum addresses a gap in medical training.
• Effective management of pre-diagnostic uncertainty can improve patient outcomes and care equity.