Developing a Novel Interactive Colorectal Cancer Educational Session for First-Year Medical Students to Enhance Interest in Public Health.

Medical students need more exposure to and a greater understanding of their role in public health throughout their training, which may influence more of them to pursue careers in public health or change how they practice medicine in the future. A novel colorectal cancer education session was created for first year medical students to attempt to increase public health interest, improve colorectal cancer knowledge and discuss barriers to colorectal cancer screening. We constructed a novel integrated interactive peer led colorectal cancer educational session of panelists with a wide range of experiences in colorectal cancer and colorectal cancer screening. The session involved a didactic component, case presentation, and group exercises followed by assembly discussion. We surveyed first-year medical students over two consecutive years to assess their interest in public health, knowledge of colorectal cancer, and perceptions of barriers to colorectal cancer screening before and after the educational session. We also evaluated student satisfaction with the session. We compared the pre- and post-survey results to assess for changes in interest, knowledge and perceptions. 74.63% of students in 2018 and 67.7% in 2019 evaluated the session as excellent or good, with knowledge regarding colorectal cancer screening markedly increased after the educational session. Students reported knowledge and access to healthcare among the biggest patient barriers to colorectal cancer screening. Interest in public health increased by 7.5% and 5.6% in 2018 and 2019, respectively. The implementation of this interactive educational peer led exercise can increase interest in public health, improve knowledge of colorectal cancer prevention and facilitate discussions of colorectal cancer screening barriers. We hope to encourage other programs to adopt this preliminary model.

Opportunities for improved cardiovascular disease prevention in oncology patients.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Cancer patients often have cardiovascular risk factors at the time of cancer diagnosis, which are known to increase the risk of cardiotoxicity. Cancer survivors have significantly higher cardiovascular risk. Current cardiovascular disease prevention guidelines are based on studies that largely excluded these patients. We reviewed recent data regarding cardiovascular disease prevention in this population. RECENT FINDINGS: Nonpharmacologic therapies aiming to reduce 'lifestyle toxicity' produced by cancer treatments have demonstrated potential to decrease the incidence of adverse outcomes. Exercise before, during and after cancer treatment not only promotes higher quality of life and cardiorespiratory fitness but also reduces adverse cardiovascular outcomes. Lipid and cardiometabolic disease management is paramount but predominantly based on data that excludes these populations of cancer patients and survivors. SUMMARY: A comprehensive approach including medical evaluation, prescriptive exercise, cardiac risk factor modification, education, counseling, pharmacologic and behavioral interventions are needed in cancer patients. These interventions constitute the core of cardio-oncology rehabilitation programs, which if implemented appropriately may help reduce cardiovascular events in this population. Knowledge gaps in these areas are starting to be addressed by ongoing clinical trials.