The effect of a series of online CME activities on the multidisciplinary management of patients with GEP-NETs.

Abstract

e23004 Background: Gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (GEP-NETs) are rare, heterogenous neoplasms characterized by a wide spectrum of clinical manifestations. Management strategies are varied and include surgery, radiological intervention, cytotoxic chemotherapies, somatostatin analogs, TKIs, and novel peptide receptor radionuclide therapy (PRRT). Due to their clinical complexity, the diagnosis and treatment of GEP-NETS should involve collaboration between specialists in multiple disciplines. The objective of this study was to assess the educational impact of a series of continuing medical education (CME) activities on the knowledge, competence, and confidence of oncologists, gastroenterologists, and pathologists with respect to the use of novel systemic therapies for the multidisciplinary management of patients with GEP-NETs. Methods: The educational series consisted of 3 online, CME-certified activities. Educational impact was assessed with repeated pre-/post-education including multiple choice knowledge/competence questions and 5-point Likert scale confidence questions. Data from all oncologists, gastroenterologists, and pathologists who completed pre- and/or post-education assessments were aggregated across activities and stratified by learning theme. Relative changes in percentage of correct responses and clinicians who were confident (value of 4 or 5) were used to measure improvement in knowledge, competence, and confidence. A McNemar’s test assessed significant levels of changes reported with P values < .05 considered statistically significant. The first activity in the series launched December 2020 and the last launched February 2021; data were collected until February 2022. Results: The educational series resulted in overall statistically significant improvements in oncologists’, gastroenterologists’, and pathologists’ knowledge, competence, and confidence after education (N = 125 to 455, P < .05). Conclusions: This analysis demonstrates that oncologists’, gastroenterologists’, and pathologists’ knowledge, competence, and confidence regarding the use of novel systemic therapies in the multidisciplinary management of patients with GEP-NETs improved after education. Despite these improvements, additional educational activities are needed to address residual gaps and further increase clinicians’ ability in this clinical setting.[Table: see text]