TABLE IV.

Examples of competency items for each aspect of the IECARES framework

Humanism domain	Sample competency item
Integrity	“Practice medicine in accordance with medical ethics and patient rights”19
	“The surgical oncologist must take responsibility for their actions and outcomes with honesty and a desire to continually improve, always putting the patient’s needs first”20
Excellence	“Surgical oncologists have a professional duty to maintain and continually update their expertise to enable them to offer patient care that maximizes beneficial outcomes within the limits of the healthcare environment in which they practice”20
Compassion and collaboration	“Ability to elicit the patient’s wishes with regard to the aims of treatment and to give the treatment alone or in collaboration with other specialists”21
	“Listening to patients and responding to their questions, concerns and preferences and keeping them informed about the progress of their care”22
Altruism	“The surgical oncologist must take responsibility for their actions and outcomes with honesty and a desire to continually improve, always putting the patient’s needs first”20
Respect and resilience	“Always considerate, polite and thoughtful of patients and colleagues”23
	“Ability to elicit the patient’s wishes with regard to the aims of treatment and to give the treatment alone or in collaboration with other specialists”21
Empathy	“Recognizes the impact of bad news on the patient, carers, staff members and self”22
	“Depression and anxiety, the role of the clinical nurse specialist. How to recognise the symptoms and signs of psychological distress and secondary mental illness. Management strategies”24
Service	“Accepts additional duties in situations of unavoidable and unpredictable absence of colleagues ensuring that the best interests of the patient are paramount”22