Enhancing Value-Based Care and Treatment of Newly Diagnosed Multiple Myeloma
Expert Perspectives · Lyn Brook · 2024-08-14
Recently, i3 Health provided an educational activity that has challenged knowledge gaps experienced by clinicians in aligning treatment goals and value-based care in newly diagnosed multiple myeloma (NDMM).
Patients with multiple myeloma experience a significant symptom burden, and treatment planning is complicated by factors such as age, frailty, comorbidities, eligibility for autologous stem cell transplantation, and risk stratification. Pharmacists are challenged with leveraging the best available evidence and meeting individual care needs in diverse patient populations across different settings, and gaps remain in promoting collaboration between the multidisciplinary team and managed care professionals in their goal of providing value-based treatment and survivorship care plans. Thus, it is imperative that pharmacists seek online educational activities that provide expert guidance on evolving treatment paradigms in NDMM.
To address the knowledge gaps experienced by pharmacists regarding value-based care of NDMM, an online Strategy Session and an accompanying infographic were created and made available on i3 Health’s website from March 1, 2023, through February 29, 2024. Participants in this activity were eligible to receive continuing pharmacy education (CPE) credit. Two key pharmacist leaders in the field of multiple myeloma led this activity: Joseph A. Kalis, PharmD, BCOP, Ambulatory Oncology Clinical Pharmacy Specialist at the University of Colorado Health, and Eric Cannon, PharmD, FAMCP, General Manager at Scripius.
A total of 7,893 learners participated in the activity and downloaded the infographic; 130 of these participants completed the activity for credit. Most participants who completed the activity were pharmacists, followed by registered nurses, physicians, nurse practitioners, advance practice nurses, physician assistants, and those who chose “other” as their profession.
The baseline data collected revealed knowledge gaps in the following areas:
- Assessing guideline-recommended treatment combination and sequencing strategies for NDMM
- Reviewing the mechanism of action, efficacy, and safety of anti-CD38 monoclonal antibodies in the treatment of NDMM
- Discussing strategies for developing evidence- and value-based care plans for patients with NDMM
Participants were given a matching pretest and posttest at the beginning and end of the activity, respectively. Statistically significant learning gains were made between the pretest and posttest:
Upon completion of the activity, 89% of participants reported that they felt more confident in treating their patients with NDMM, and 89% reported that the material presented would be used to improve the outcomes of their patients.
The data revealed by the posttest assessment affirm the effectiveness of online educational content pertaining to the topic of value-based care and treatment of NDMM. Based on these data, i3 Health has determined that the interprofessional team may benefit from CME/NCPD/CPE activities that provide NDMM education on:
- Recent clinical trial findings on efficacy and safety of anti-CD38 monoclonal antibodies in the treatment of NDMM
- Guideline-recommended treatment combination and sequencing strategies for NDMM
- Strategies for developing evidence- and value-based care plans for patients with NDMM
Resources
i3 Health (2024). Aligning treatment goals and value-based care in newly diagnosed multiple myeloma: activity outcomes report. Data on file.