Concluding remarks

Special thanks

First we want to thank all the respondents for their participation in this survey. We are very grateful for many constructive remarks, which will most certainly be taken into consideration. We are also grateful to Dr. Jan Stjernswärd, Chief of the former Cancer and Palliative Care Unit at WHO Headquarters in Geneva, whose appreciation of the book was the basis for this survey.

Summary of the results

The textbook Essential Oncology for Health Professionals is - according to most respondents - comprehensive, understandable, relevant and well-designed. It is recommendable to health professionals and medical students.

Applicable in different cultures

The data from this survey demonstrate that the book is applicable in different cultures, be it that in translations regional epidemiologic data and regional dietary habits should be incorporated.

Topic selection in cancer education

Differences in opinion concerning topic selection is not a cultural, but a trans-cultural one. In medical cancer education traditional teaching patterns are still commonplace, which means that:

a. much theoretical knowledge is offered, often far beyond the necessary knowledge and skills for doctors not practising as oncologists, and often lacking topics relevant in general health care;

b. during clerkships the students (interns) are frequently confronted with clinical patients with advanced disease, and they are seldom confronted with cured patients in the outpatient clinics. Moreover, they are seldom offered the opportunity to see patients who are consulting the doctor for the first time.

It should be realized that medical schools train future physicians of whom the vast majority will chose disciplines other than oncology. Whatever discipline is chosen, every medical doctor will see patients who (may) have cancer. The main topics in undergraduate cancer education should therefore primarily be aimed at the needs in general practice of doctors not-specialized in oncology.

Relation education - general practice

As mentioned in the introduction: Mondial developments in medical education are the result of a growing insight that a better relation is needed between medical education and preparation for general practice. This insight is enhanced by:

1. general practitioners criticizing medical schools concerning their training in knowledge and skills needed in general practice;
2. ministries of health and insurance companies becoming more and more critical concerning major concerns of financial implications.
3. the general public and patient associations becoming more and more critical and assertive in health care; 
4. medical students becoming more and more critical concerning teaching programs.  

 

Groningen - 1996

J. Oldhoff
E.M.L. Haagedoorn
W. Bender