H.O.P.E. (Hematology/Oncology Practical Education): A pilot curriculum.

Abstract

e21007 Background: Patients with hematologic malignancies are living longer than ever before, due to advances in diagnostic tools, the development of novel therapies, and enhanced supportive care. Evidence suggests that clinicians without specialized training in hematology and/or oncology often feel underprepared to care for this population. This pilot curriculum aims to equip these caregivers with a practical, high-yield framework for approaching commonly encountered complications in this cohort. Methods: This curriculum was piloted with internal medicine residents enrolled in their residency program’s Hospital Medicine Track, first-year Hematology/Oncology fellows, and Intensive Care Unit Advanced Practice Practitioners (APPs). Participants completed a survey assessing their comfort level in managing various complications associated with hematologic and oncologic disorders. They received one-page educational summaries on these high-yield topics and then engaged in a case-based discussion that was designed to reinforce the key concepts outlined in the review sheets. Finally, participants completed a post-session survey to assess its impact. Results: A total of 18 physicians and APPs participated in this pilot study. The review documents and case-based discussion led to an increase in comfort in caring for patients with these complications (Table I). Conclusions: This pilot study demonstrated that concise one-page educational summaries, paired with case-based discussions, effectively increased participants’ comfort in managing hematologic and oncologic complications. Building on this preliminary success, we aim to broaden this program’s reach to include additional physicians and advanced practice providers who work as hospitalists or nocturnists or in the emergency medicine and pulmonology/critical care spaces, locally, nationally, and internationally. As specialists, it is our duty and privilege to educate our colleagues in managing this vulnerable population. We are hopeful that, in doing so, our cancer patients will receive optimal care regardless of their care team and location. Subsequent iterations of this initiative will assess durability, patient safety, and improved quality of care. Comfort level in complication management. Pre-Session (N=18, mean on 1-5 scale) Post-Session (N=15, mean on 1-5 scale) CRS 2.16 3.99 ICANS 2.05 3.79 GVHD 2.05 3.66 Neutropenic Fever 3.49 4.33 Transfusion Reactions 2.72 4.00 Complications of acute leukemia* 2.16 3.93 Engraftment Syndrome 1.66 3.46 Scale: 1: Very Uncomfortable​; 2: Somewhat Uncomfortable​; 3: Neither Comfortable nor uncomfortable; 4: Somewhat Comfortable​; 5: Very Comfortable​. CRS: Cytokine Release Syndrome; ICANS: Immune Effector Cell-Associated Neurotoxicity Syndrome. *Includes: Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation, Tumor Lysis Syndrome, Hyperleukocytosis, Differentiation Syndrome.