Evaluation of an Interprofessional Training Program to Improve Cancer Drug Therapy Safety

Abstract

Purpose: Drug therapy for cancer is a high-risk, high-volume clinical intervention that requires interprofessional teams. Given the complexity of anticancer drug therapy and safety concerns, an interdisciplinary team developed a novel training program for oncology registered nurses and pharmacists to improve cancer drug safety.

Methods: Participants completed preworkshop learning assessments and received access to web-based modules on six topics: hazardous drug handling, drug extravasation, hypersensitivity reaction management, sepsis recognition, immune checkpoint inhibitor toxicities, and oral oncolytic adherence. In a 7-hour workshop, participants applied module content in interactive exercises and high-fidelity simulations. Preworkshop and postworkshop questionnaires assessed changes in knowledge and confidence in each topic. Program satisfaction and changes to clinical practice or policies were assessed 3 months after the workshop.

Results: Two hundred ninety-two nurses and 82 pharmacists applied to participate, and 103 (35%) and 44 (54%) have participated, respectively. Long-term follow-up data were available on 133 (90%) participants. Change scores in confidence to meet program objectives increased between pre- and postworkshop (range of increase 0.6-0.8, P < .01). Knowledge scores increased significantly between pre- and postworkshop (average improvement of 3.2 points, P < .01). Overall program satisfaction was high (mean 5.0, standard deviation [0.2] on a five-point scale). Seventy-seven (60%) reported that they had made at least one clinical practice or institutional policy change at 3 months.

Conclusion: An interprofessional education program with online modules, in-person interactive sessions, and simulation activities is a promising strategy to deliver cancer drug safety content to practicing oncology clinicians.

FIG 1.

Self-reported confidence in delivering cancer drug therapy safely (N = 147). Confidence to deliver cancer drug therapies safely was evaluated on a five-point Likert scale, with 1 = not at all confident to 5 = completely confident. A paired t-test was used to evaluate changes at the time of workshop enrollment and immediately following the in-person workshop.

FIG 2.

Comparison of knowledge scores before and 3 months after the workshop (N = 133). Nurse and pharmacist participants completed a 25-item knowledge assessment at the time of workshop enrollment and 3 months after workshop completion. Average knowledge scores are shown for nurses, pharmacists, and all participants before and after the workshop.