Geriatric Oncology as an Unmet Workforce Training Need in the United Kingdom—A Narrative Review by the British Oncology Network for Undergraduate Societies (BONUS) and the International Society of Geriatric Oncology (SIOG) UK Country Group

Khoury, Emma G.; Nuamek, Thitikorn; Heritage, Sophie; Fulton-Ward, Taylor; Kucharczak, Joanna; Ng, Cassandra; Kalsi, Tania; Gomes, Fabio; Lind, Michael J.; Battisti, Nicolò M. L.; Cheung, Kwok-Leung; Parks, Ruth; Pearce, Jessica; Baxter, Mark A.

Abstract

Cancer is a disease associated with ageing. Managing cancer in older adults may prove challenging owing to pre-existing frailty, comorbidity, and wider holistic needs, as well as the unclear benefits and harms of standard treatment options. With the ongoing advances in oncology and the increasing complexity of treating older adults with cancer, the geriatric oncology field must be a priority for healthcare systems in education, research, and clinical practice. However, geriatric oncology is currently not formally taught in undergraduate education or postgraduate training programmes in the United Kingdom (UK). In this commentary, we outline the landscape of geriatric oncology undergraduate education and postgraduate training for UK doctors. We highlight current challenges and opportunities and provide practical recommendations for better preparing the medical workforce to meet the needs of the growing population of older adults with cancer. This includes key outcomes to be considered for inclusion within undergraduate and postgraduate curricula.

Citation

Khoury, E. G., Nuamek, T., Heritage, S., Fulton-Ward, T., Kucharczak, J., Ng, C., Kalsi, T., Gomes, F., Lind, M. J., Battisti, N. M. L., Cheung, K.-L., Parks, R., Pearce, J., & Baxter, M. A. (2023). Geriatric Oncology as an Unmet Workforce Training Need in the United Kingdom—A Narrative Review by the British Oncology Network for Undergraduate Societies (BONUS) and the International Society of Geriatric Oncology (SIOG) UK Country Group. Cancers, 15(19), 4782. https://doi.org/10.3390/cancers15194782

• Journal Article Type: Review
• Acceptance Date: Sep 22, 2023
• Online Publication Date: Sep 28, 2023
• Publication Date: 2023-10
• Deposit Date: Oct 25, 2023
• Publicly Available Date: Oct 25, 2023
• Journal: Cancers
• Electronic ISSN: 2072-6694
• Publisher: MDPI
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 15
• Issue: 19
• Pages: 4782
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/cancers15194782
• Keywords: Geriatric oncology; medical education; undergraduate; postgraduate; workforce planning
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/25649817
• PMID: 37835476