Enhancing oncologist knowledge and skills through patient-centric medical education: A collaborative approach with LUNGevity.

Abstract

e21007 Background: Patient centricity in healthcare delivery has evolved, driven by accumulating evidence of improved outcomes through patient empowerment. PeerView partnered with LUNGevity Foundation to develop multiple educational initiatives with a patient-centered approach to lung cancer care. Methods: 4 live events and 4 online enduring activities were developed to improve the knowledge and skills of oncologists and other healthcare professionals (HCPs) involved in the management of patients with small cell and non–small cell lung cancer. These initiatives followed a patient-centric approach, featuring: Learning objectives addressing incorporation of patient-centric approaches to provision of optimal and equitable lung cancer care in two of the activities; LUNGevity input on the co-creation and development of the activities, including curriculum planning, identifying faculty, highlighting advocacy resources, and incorporating the patient voice; Expert discussions framed with patient perspectives and illustrative case scenarios to highlight strategies for improving team-based collaboration, patient engagement, shared decision-making, and health equity in clinical care and research; Unique instructional elements, including patient focus group insights and video role play; and Tools designed to enhance clinician-patient communication, patient engagement in care, and shared decision-making Pre- and post-activity assessments included multiple choice questions to measure changes in knowledge and skills and Likert-style questions assessing intent to change practice. Responses from enduring activity participants were also compared with those from a matched sample of nonparticipants. Results: To date, 11,227 learners, including 8,112 oncologists, have participated in these activities. Substantial post-activity gains were consistent across all initiatives, with a 44-ppt average increase in knowledge and skills. Outcomes related to patient-centric care included increases of: 38 ppt in ability to implement team-based and patient-centric approaches to ensure timely and accurate diagnosis, appropriate biomarker testing, individualized treatment, and equitable care of all patients with NSCLC (43% to 81%); 44 ppt in ability to implement team-based and patient-centric approaches to ensure optimal and equitable use of immunotherapy in the care of all eligible patients with NSCLC (39% to 83%); and 15 ppt in intent to provide education, guidance, and resources to patients with lung cancer (68% to 83%). Conclusions: These initiatives demonstrated significant improvements in learner knowledge, skills, and confidence across all learning objectives. Furthermore, incorporation of patient-centric approaches represents an effective model for clinical education to increase HCPs’ compassion, empathy, and ability to provide effective and holistic patient care.