Improving Surgical/Medical Oncology Collaboration for Breast Cancer Treatment Planning: Pilot Testing the Impact of Continuing Education and Patient Care Planning

The overarching goals are to improve clinician knowledge about evidence-based practices for neoadjuvant therapy for breast cancer, increase appropriate referrals to medical oncology for consideration of preoperative systemic therapy (as determined by adherence to NCCN pre-operative systemic therapy guidelines), and to improve communication between the multidisciplinary team and patient regarding the appropriateness, selection, and timing of neoadjuvant therapy. Secondary objectives include a) evaluation of the impact of the intervention on actual prescription of neoadjuvant therapy to eligible patients and b) evaluation of the impact of the intervention on surgeons and medical oncologists' knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs about the benefits of neoadjuvant therapy. We will also explore the acceptability and utilization of the Carevive care plan during medical oncologists' initial consultations after referral of patients from surgical practices. In this project, 25 newly diagnosed breast cancer patients will be recruited over a 3-6 month period, screened for eligibility for neoadjuvant therapy, and assessed for patient treatment preferences at time of surgical consultation using a novel and commercially available electronic technology, the Carevive Care Planning System (CPS). Patients will receive a care plan that explains neoadjuvant therapy among possible treatment options. In addition, patients will be screened for distress as well as eligibility for genetic counseling (according to NCCN referral criteria) and fertility preservation (according to ASCO guidelines) referrals, and the Carevive care plans provided will also incorporate personalized referrals to these related services where applicable.

Retrospective chart reviews (from both surgical and medical oncology practices participating in this project), complemented by data extracted from the Carevive CPS, will be used to assess changes in rates of referrals to medical oncology for discussion and actual prescriptions of neoadjuvant therapy, as compared to historical data from prior publications documenting low rates of referral to, and receipt of, neoadjuvant therapy. Provider questionnaires exploring knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs about the benefits of neoadjuvant therapy will be completed at baseline and again at follow-up (≤4 weeks following intervention visit of their last patient) and changes will be explored using a pre-/post-test design. Use of a care planning technology to provide tailored education and individualized information may provide an easy, accessible and effective way to improve provider abilities to proactively identify patients eligible for specific therapies, understand patient treatment goals, concerns, drive shared decision making (SDM) and sufficiently collaborate with the multi-disciplinary team to provide optimal care.