Abstract P6-14-05: Impact of breast cancer CME: Physician practice pattern, knowledge, and competence assessments
Authors: Haas M , Heintz A , Stacy T 
Published: August 2014

Background: Several scientific advances for women with breast cancer have taken place in the last decade. The National Cancer Institute reports that approximately 2.5 million women with a history of breast cancer are alive today due to advances in screening, detection, treatment, and supportive care.

Due to the volume and pace of scientific advances within the specialty of oncology, the timely dissemination of clinical trial results and discussions regarding the appropriate incorporation of advances into therapeutic strategy is necessary to provide the highest quality patient care. Furthermore, increasing awareness in the breast cancer community on similarities and differences amongst practice management strategies helps to identify individual practice patterns and benchmark individual knowledge and competence against one's professional peers.

Methods: Between November 2011 and November 2012, educational outcomes assessments were gathered during 95 independent continuing medical education (CME) activities held within community and academic institutions and practices across the United States. The activities educated oncology healthcare providers on recent updates to the development and integration of new therapies in the management of ER+, HER2+ and/or HER2− breast cancer.

Participants were asked a series of case-based questions via an audience response system to assess baseline knowledge, competence, and identify practice patterns. Assessments were repeated post a 1-hour independent CME certified activity, with an additional 6-week electronic follow-up. Barriers to implementing the information learned were captured at 6-week follow-up. Educational gaps were identified through documentation and comparison of current best practices versus actual participant responses.

Results: To date, a total of 568 healthcare providers have participated in the initiative of which 326 (57%) were physicians. Number of years in practice included &lt; 10 years (22%), 10–20 years (50%), 21–30 years (13%), &gt; 30 years (15%). The number of breast cancer patients seen per month included ≤ 10 (45%), 11–20 (17%), 21–30 (15%), 31–40 (8%), and &gt; 40 (15%). This represents a potential impact of 3,706 patient lives.

Provider competency in applying recent literature to the patient care setting was both assessed and measured. Results of patient therapy selection in the first-line and relapsed MBC setting will be reported. Knowledge and awareness regarding recent clinical trials as well as self-reported competence in discussing the mechanism of action, efficacy, and safety data from recent clinical trials will be presented.

Participants reported a number of barriers to applying data learned at the activities into clinical practice. Responses included lack of reimbursement (24%), treatment side effects (24%), newness of treatment data (40%), perceived efficacy (8%) and treatment not commercially available (4%).

Conclusion: The results suggest the education of providers on the most currently available clinical trial results and peer discussion of how to optimize translation of this information into patient care increases breast cancer provider knowledge and competence. Breast cancer CME plays an important role in improving the care of patients and practice of medicine.

Citation Information: Cancer Res 2012;72(24 Suppl):Abstract nr P6-14-05.