Multi-Institutional Outcomes and Perspectives From Medical Students After Virtual Radiation Oncology Electives.

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVE(S) Applications in radiation oncology residency have been on the decline in the past 3 years. This was attributed in part due to limited exposure to the field. We hypothesize that improving medical student enrollment into radiation oncology electives through virtual clerkships will increase interest and knowledge in the field. MATERIALS/METHODS IRB-approved surveys were distributed via a data collection web application to medical students who attended virtual radiation oncology clerkships offered at 7 academic institutions. The surveys consisted of a series of fixed-response, checkboxes, and open-ended questions. The open-ended responses were grouped into common themes. Surveys were analyzed with 2-sided t-tests and Wilcoxon rank test. RESULTS Seventy-two (72) medical students from 7 institutions were sent a survey 1-7 months after completing the clerkship. Response rate was 54.1% (n = 39). 69.2% (n = 27) of respondents were MS4 and 30.8% (n = 12) were MS3 with equal distribution in gender. The median length of the elective rotation was 2 weeks (range 1 to 4). 69.2% (n = 27) of the respondents attended one virtual elective, 10.3% (n = 4) attended 2 virtual electives, and 20.5% (n = 8) more than 2 virtual electives. Majority (88.9%) of students attended the elective entirely virtually and 11.1% a combination of virtual and on-site rotation. 30.8% (n = 12) of the respondents, all of whom were MS4, planned on or applied for radiation oncology residency to an average of 59.5 (range 40-89) programs. 92% (n = 11) of these radiation oncology applicants were interviewed in at least one of the programs in which they attended a virtual away rotation. Students who applied to radiation oncology residency attended a median of 3 electives (range 2-4) while those who did not apply, a median of 1 elective (P < 0.001). There was a significant increase in interest in the field after the rotation among the students who applied or planned to apply (P = 0.002) and all respondents (P < 0.05). None of the MS3 respondents planned to apply to radiation oncology and 55.6% (n = 15) of MS4 respondents also did not apply or plan to apply to the field. 93% (n = 37) of respondents stated the elective was valuable for their future practice. 100 % (n = 39) of medical students indicated they were likely or most likely to recommend the virtual elective to other medical students. CONCLUSION Virtual radiation oncology electives have increased access to home and away rotations for medical students. The number of electives attended correlated with the interest of the student in the field and residency applications. Although a majority of medical students who took a virtual elective did not apply in radiation oncology, all recommended the elective and felt that the elective added valuable knowledge to their future practice, even outside of radiation oncology. Virtual elective platforms can improve education, awareness, exposure in radiation oncology as well as augment in-person rotations for medical students.