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.

Inclusion Criteria:

- 1) 18 years of age and older

- 2) Patients must have a diagnosis of breast cancer for which they must not have
received or been scheduled for primary breast surgery at time of project intervention,
and must be eligible for surgical resection (i.e. Stage I-III).

Exclusion Criteria:

- Any patient who cannot understand written or spoken English