Kerri Fitzgerald

DocwireNews

A recent survey that will be presented at the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium sought to identify knowledge gaps and potential areas for improvement in education involving the use of cyclin-dependent kinase 4/6 inhibitors (CDK4/6i) to treat hormone receptor-positive (HR+)/human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-negative (HER2&ndash;) breast cancer.CDK4/6i could significantly improve outcomes for these patients. &ldquo;However, given the relative short time period of their availability, appropriate evidence-based uses of CDK4/6i therapies depend on effective education and implementation strategies,&rdquo; the researchers noted. &ldquo;In the context of an accredited continuing medical education (CME) and quality improvement (QI) program, we conducted a survey study to identify educational needs and areas for improvement involving CDK4/6i decision-making and clinical management.&rdquo;Medical oncologists and clinical staff from two U.S. healthcare systems were invited to complete a baseline survey pertaining to challenges, barriers, and education and training needs in the management of patients with HR+/HER2&ndash; breast cancer, particularly regarding the use of CDK4/6i therapies. The researchers further analyzed electronic medical records (EMRs; n=100) in both systems for women with HR+/HER2&ndash; breast cancer. The oncology teams took part in CME/QI activities that included national breast cancer research and education leaders sharing the baseline survey results and feedback from the EMR audit. They were then assisted in forming strategies to face the identified challenges.Overall, 15 medical oncologists, three nurses, and two QI personnel completed the survey. A significant portion of respondents said they were dissatisfied with current CDK4/6i treatment algorithms (40%), scheduling of patient follow-up visits (35%), team-based coordination of care (15%), and protocols for supportive care (15%).Common challenges in managing patients with HR+/HER2&ndash; breast cancer included identifying which patients would benefit from CDK4/6i therapies (35%), monitoring patients for disease progression (25%), and receiving support from administrative leadership (15%). When asked about reducing the likelihood that patients would discontinue CDK4/6i due to toxicity, the respondents suggested increasing interprofessional collaboration and care coordination (45%) and providing education about adverse events to patients and caregivers (20%) and oncology clinical team members (15%).The action plans created by the oncology teams during the CME/QI activities included the establishment of protocols and EMR tracking mechanisms to monitor patients using CDK4/6i therapies, tracking CDK4/6i dispensing at pharmacies, and recording patient characteristics (i.e., staging, menopausal status, progression to guide individualized treatment decision-making).

Sara Nunnery, MD, MSCI

Reclassifying HER2: What Oncologists Need to Know About HER2-Low and -Ultralow Breast Cancer

HER2 Breast Cancer

Jeffrey Perl, MD

Joel M. Topf, MD, FACP

Thoughts From the 2025 Lazarus Award Winner

NKF Spring Clinical Meetings 2025

Brandon Twyford

DESTINY-Breast09 Demonstrates First-Line Superiority of Enhertu Plus Pertuzumab in HER2-Positive Metastatic Breast Cancer

Latest News

Educational Gaps Regarding Cyclin-Dependent Kinase 4/6 Inhibitors

San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium 2019

A recent survey that will be presented at the San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium sought to identify knowledge gaps and potential areas for improvement in education involving ...

About Us

Editorial Policy

Advertising

Contact Us

eNewsletters

Contribute

Career Center

MashupMD

Blood Cancers Today

Cancer Nursing Today

GU Oncology Now

Urban Health Today

Bile Duct Cancer

Colorectal Cancer

Gastroesophageal Cancer

Gastric Cancer

GEP-NETs

GIST

Liver Cancer

Pancreatic Cancer

GI Oncology Now

Anemia

Deep Vein Thrombosis

Essential Thrombocythemia

Hemophilia

Immune Thrombocytopenic Purpura

Myelodysplastic Syndromes

Myelofibrosis

Myeloproliferative Neoplasms

Polycythemia Vera

Pulmonary Embolism

Sickle Cell Disease

Thrombocytopenia

Thrombophilia

Thrombosis

Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Purpura

Venous Thromboembolism

von Willebrand Disease

Heme Today

Acute Kidney Injury

ADPKD

Anemia and Kidney Disease

Chronic Kidney Disease

COVID-19 and Kidney Disease

Diabetes and Hypertension

End-Stage Renal Disease

Gout

Hyperkalemia

IgAN

Kidney Transplantation

Metabolic Acidosis

Nephrology Times

HR Breast Cancer

Triple-Negative Breast Cancer

Genetics & Breast Cancer

Breast Cancers Today

Atherosclerotic Disease

Atrial Fibrillation

Heart Failure

Hypertension

Interventional Cardiology

Lipid Management

Practice Tips With Dr. Lichaa

Preventive Cardiology

Stroke

Cardiology

Breast Cancer

Gynecologic Cancer

Head and Neck Cancer

Skin Cancer

Oncology

Sleep

Urology

Diabetes

Ophthalmology

— Demodex Blepharitis

Neurology

Rheumatology

Gastroenterology

Pulmonology

Infectious Diseases

— HIV

Health and Wellness

Lupus

Future of Medicine

Orthopedics

Pharmacology

Career News

More

Conferences

CardioNerds

The Sleep Source With Dr. Morse

Rheumatology Rounds With Dr. Maheswaranathan

Partners

Expert Interviews

Subscribe