Training the Next Generation on CTCAE in an Automated World

Introduction: CTCAE Is Learned, Not Intuitive

CTCAE grading is a learned skill. New clinicians, nurses, and coordinators develop intuition over time, often through informal mentorship and repetition.

Automation changes how this learning occurs.

The Risk of Skill Atrophy

Poorly designed automation can deskill users, encouraging blind acceptance of suggestions. This is particularly risky for trainees who have not yet internalized CTCAE principles.

Training must evolve alongside tools.

Automation as a Teaching Aid

When transparent, automation can enhance learning. Showing how symptom language maps to grades, and why certain thresholds matter, reinforces understanding.

Reviewing disagreements between human and system becomes an educational moment.

Designing for Supervised Learning

Training programs should explicitly incorporate automation. Trainees should be encouraged to challenge suggestions, document rationale, and discuss edge cases.

Automation becomes a tutor, not an authority.

Preserving Expertise Over Time

Long-term safety depends on preserving human expertise. Automation should accelerate learning curves, not flatten them. Governance and training must reinforce this goal deliberately.