Introduction: Mentorship programs are ubiquitous in medical education. However, few emphasize equal development for learners and mentors, or incorporate clinical skills, which may be important for promoting medical students’ self-determination. Central to this consideration are the three basic psychological needs for autonomy, competence, and relatedness, described by Self-Determination Theory (SDT). Grounded in SDT, this study assesses the extent that meeting these needs, in a near-peer mentoring program, impacts learners’ and mentors’ motivation and perceived competence about learning and teaching of clinical knowledge, respectively. Methods: Medical students from the University of Saskatchewan, who participated in its near-peer mentoring program (PULSE: Peers United in Leadership & Skills Enhancement), were invited to complete an anonymous survey. Regression was used to determine how the program’s learning climate impacted learners’ and mentors’ psychological need satisfaction and perceived competence within their mentorship role. Results: Learners and mentors both rated PULSE as highly needs-satisfying. In turn, this was associated with greater perceived competence about learning and teaching of the material. Conclusions: Findings from this study suggest that mentoring programs in medical education, which support learners’ basic psychological needs, may promote their motivation and perceived competence—both about learning and also teaching of clinical skills. The implications of these results are discussed from an SDT perspective, with respect to mentoring programs in medical education.

Background The current study aimed to determine the association between timing and completion of adjuvant chemotherapy and outcomes in real-world patients with early-stage pancreatic cancer. Methods In this multi-center cohort study patients with early-stage pancreatic cancer who were diagnosed from 2007–2017 and underwent complete resection in the province of Saskatchewan were examined. Cox proportional multivariate analyses were performed for correlation with recurrence and survival. Results Of 168 patients, 71 eligible patients with median age of 69 years and M:F of 37:34 were identified. Median time to the start of adjuvant therapy from surgery was 73 days. Of all patients, 49 (69%) patients completed adjuvant chemotherapy and 22 (31%) required early treatment discontinuation. Median recurrence-free survival of patients who completed treatment was 22 months (95%CI:15.8–28.2) vs. 9 months (3.3–14.7) if treatment was discontinued early (P<0.001). Median overall survival of those who completed treatment was 33 (17.5–48.5) vs. 16 months (17.5–48.5) with early treatment discontinuation (P<0.001). In the multivariate analysis, treatment discontinuation was significantly correlated with recurrent disease, hazard ratio (HR), 2.57 (1.41–4.68), P = 0.002 and inferior survival, HR, 2.55 (1.39–4.68), P = 0.003. No correlation between treatment timing and survival was noted. Conclusions Early discontinuation but not the timing of adjuvant chemotherapy correlates with inferior outcomes.

694 Background: Although evidence suggests that a delay in initiation of adjuvant chemotherapy (AC) results in inferior outcomes in some cancers, little is known about its detrimental effects in patients with ESPC. Moreover, it is not known if EDAC has been associated with high risk of recurrence and poor survival. The current study aims to determine association between timing and completion of AC and outcomes in ESPC. Methods: Patients with ESPC who were diagnosed from Jan 2007 to Dec 2017 and underwent complete resection in the province of Saskatchewan were examined. Kaplan Meier methods and log rank tests were performed for survival analyses. Cox proportional multivariate analyses were performed for correlation with recurrence and survival. Results: A total 168 patients with ESPC were identified. 97 (57%) patients were excluded as they did not receive AC, were found to have metastatic disease, did not have curative surgery or had received preoperative chemotherapy. Of 71 eligible patients with median age of 69 years (IQR: 57-73), 52% were male, 31% had WHO performance status of 0 and 92% had a comorbid illness. 78% had pancreatic head tumor, 66% had T3 tumor and 63% had node-positive disease. Median time to start of AC from surgery was 73 days (IQR: 59-89). 32% were started AC within 60 days of surgery. 89% received single-agent chemotherapy and 25% received adjuvant radiation. 69% completed planned treatment. Median time to recurrence in group which completed treatment was 22 months (95%CI:15.8-28.2) vs. 9 months (3.3-14.7) if treatment was discontinued early (P < 0.001). Median overall survival of the group that completed treatment was 33 months (17.5-48.5) vs. 16 months (17.5-48.5) if it was stopped early (P < 0.001). On multivariate analysis, EDAC was significantly correlated with recurrent disease (HR = 3.0; 1.6-5.5), P = 0.0001 and inferior survival (HR = 3.2; 1.68-6.12), P < 0.001. No correlation between AC timing and survival was noted. Conclusions: Although timing of AC does not correlate with inferior outcomes, EDAC has been associated with high risk of recurrence and inferior survival in ESPC.