Clinical oncology e-learning
e-learning is an increasingly integral component of both clinical oncology training and continuing professional development for consultants. The RCR supports and encourages e-learning in a number of ways.
RCR Learning
The virtual platform was developed in recognition of the fact that doctors are finding it increasingly hard to take time out from their clinical duties to attend study days and conferences. It is designed to offer bite-sized educational activities such as e-learning sessions, interesting cases, quizzes, videos and podcasts as well as allowing pre-booking for face-to-face education sessions and webinars.
Imaging for clinical oncology trainees
A recurring theme in ORF trainee surveys in recent years has been the difficulty that many clinical oncology trainees encounter in accessing radiology teaching. A new resource is under development to help rectify this by providing e-learning sessions about imaging as it relates to oncology. The first eigth sessions covering imaging in prostate, gynaecological, oesophageal, anal, lung, brain, bladder and mesothelioma cancers are now available on the RCR e-learning hub. For more information, Imaging for oncology trainees.
Further sessions covering Head & neck (Oropharynx), Lymphoma, Rectal (Colorectal), Breast, Pancreas, Spinal and Head and Neck (subsite tbc) are under development.
e-Proton
Written by expert clinical oncologists, radiotherapy physicists and radiographers, e-Proton is designed to support the education and training of staff in preparation for the opening of the first NHS proton beam therapy (PBT) centres in the UK. The programme has been designed for all staff groups working in NHS radiotherapy and related services, especially those in referral or support centres. Access to e-Proton is free of charge for anyone in the NHS. Visit the e-Proton page for more information.
R-ITI
The RCR’s radiology e-learning programme, R-ITI, is also available to all clinical oncologists. While the 750+ R-ITI sessions were written for radiology trainees some of them will also be of value to clinical oncology trainees. The Oncology Registrars Forum compiled a list of sessions of particular interest to clinical oncology trainees. This appears as a learning path within R-ITI once you are logged in. To access R-ITI you just need to register with e Learning for Healthcare (see below for more information).
Other RCR e-learning resources
The RCR has a number of electronic resources available that contribute to learning and continuing professional development.
• Audit Library
• Clinical Oncology (online Journal)
e-Learning for Healthcare (e-LfH)
e-LfH works in partnership with the NHS and professional bodies to provide high quality content free of charge for the training of the NHS workforce across the UK. e-LfH has over 75 separate e-learning programmes, all of which are free to access for those working in the NHS. To access these programmes you need to register with e-LfH using an NHS email address. Some programmes that might be of relevance or interest to clinical oncologists are:
Programmes for other specialties that may be of interest to clinical oncology:
- End of Life Care
- Supporting Self-Care
- Anaesthesia (ELA) (this programme has some useful statistics sessions)
Professional skills:
External resources
There are numerous e-learning tools from all over the world that can be accessed by UK clinical oncologists, some free of charge and some subscription based. The College is keen to help guide trainees and consultants alike to those that are of most use so would welcome recommendations from Fellows and members. If you are aware of a particularly good resource good please email RCRLearning@rcr.ac.uk and let us know what it is. In time we aim to build a bank of useful links.