Quality care of patients with HR+/HER2-breast cancer: Insights from an implementation science program

e18756 Background: Oral oncolytics have transformed the treatment landscape of HR+/HER2- breast cancer, shifting the responsibility for medication adherence and side effect management to patients. To optimize patient outcomes, collaborative patient-provider education on treatment expectations, adverse event management, and shared decision-making is imperative. Methods: From 11/2021 to 2/2022, HR+/HER2- breast cancer patients (N = 55) and health care professionals (HCPs) (N = 69) who treat breast cancer from 5 community practices were surveyed on attitudes, values, and challenges related to treatment, adherence, and adverse event management on oral therapies. HCPs (N = 59) participated in audit-feedback (AF) sessions to reflect on their own practice and develop action plans to improve care, which were implemented in subsequent collaborative patient-provider learning sessions. Informed by survey findings and insights from patient focus groups a, a point-of-care oral oncolytic toolkit was disseminated to support patients and providers in effective communication, treatment adherence, and side effect management. Results: In surveys, HCPs and patients reported side effects of medication as the top challenge impacting treatment adherence, with fatigue (33%), nausea/vomiting (28%), and hair loss (28%) the most challenging side effects. Notably, 46% of HCPs reported inadequate time to discuss patient goals, preferences and concerns as the biggest barrier for shared decision-making, and 15% of patients reported their doctor does not always ask about goals, preferences, and concerns. Reflection on survey and focus group insights in AF sessions enabled providers to develop and implement action plans including the provision of patient education resources on medication adherence and side effect recognition and management, scheduling adequate follow-up appointments to ensure side effect management and medication compliance, and engaging in shared decision-making. In patient-provider collaborative sessions, patients demonstrated substantial knowledge gains in how to communicate, recognize, and manage side effects associated with treatment, and providers committed to continuing patient education. Conclusions: Through a combination of a patient and provider survey study, patient focus groups, HCP AF sessions, and collaborative patient-provider learning sessions, action plans and education resources were developed and implemented to support the provision of effective treatment management for HR+/HER2- breast cancer. The methods and findings of this study represent key opportunities for improvement in caring for patients with HR+/HER2- breast cancer. Study Sponsor Statement: This activity is supported by educational grants from Lilly and Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation, who had no role in the study design, execution, analysis, or reporting.