The treatment of relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma (RRMM) can be extremely complex, and the emergence of novel agents and combinations has only added to the complexity. Consensus guidelines are frequently updated to reflect changing standards of care, creating an educational challenge for multidisciplinary team members to keep pace with evolving treatment modalities. At the 2022 International Myeloma Society meeting, Heller reported findings from a study that used an online, case-based continuing medical education (CME)- and nursing continuing professional development (NCPD)-approved activity to determine practice gaps in the evolving RRMM treatment landscape.
The activity, Optimizing Treatment Sequencing for Patients with Relapsed/Refractory Multiple Myeloma, was a 1-hour program that assessed recent clinical trial findings on novel sequential treatment approaches, as well as adverse event monitoring and management. Case-based questions were used in a pre- and post-activity assessment to measure the clinician’s ability to apply data with clinical decision-making.
The activity was made accessible to participants September 13, 2021. As of May 26, 2022, 230 clinicians had completed the activity. It was determined, through pre- and post-assessment analyses, that gaps in baseline knowledge existed in a variety of topics. A 57.8% knowledge gap was seen at baseline regarding timing and indications for initiating therapy in relapsed MM, an 86.5% knowledge gap was seen regarding the efficacy of idecabtagene vicleucel for RRMM, a 67.8% knowledge gap was seen regarding the efficacy of isatuximab/pomalidomide/dexamethasone for RRMM, an 85.2% knowledge gap was seen around the management of grade-2 selinexor-related diarrhea, and a 69.9% knowledge gap was seen around adverse event monitoring for belantamab mafodotin.
Knowledge gaps significantly decreased in all areas in the post-activity assessment, with a mean improvement of 56.1%. Specifically, the knowledge gap around the efficacy of idecabtagene vicleucel improved 79.6%, and the knowledge gap of the efficacy of isatuximab/pomalidomide/dexamethasone for RRMM improved 62.6% from baseline. The knowledge gap regarding safety data also improved from baseline: 73.5% improvement regarding the management of grade 2 diarrhea with selinexor and 67.4% improvement around belantamab mafodotin adverse event monitoring (P <.000001 for all values).
This study reinforces the need for educational initiatives around emerging data and clinical decision-making. It was seen that CME/NCPD-approved activities can be an effective method for improving clinicians’ knowledge of the emerging treatment landscape and management of treatment-related adverse events.
Source:
Heller EJ. Addressing the knowledge gap to optimize treatment sequencing for patients with relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma. Poster presented at: International Myeloma Foundation; August 25-27, 2022; Los Angeles, CA.