Bridging the Myeloma Treatment Gap: How Provider Education Improves Patient Access

As we observe Multiple Myeloma Awareness Month, new findings highlight a critical challenge in myeloma care. Despite remarkable advances in treatment options like CAR T-cell therapy, bispecific antibodies, and CD-38 targeting monoclonal antibodies, these innovative FDA-approved therapies remain significantly underutilized. Recent real-world data suggests this gap may be due to insufficient educational outreach to both patients and healthcare providers.

Addressing the Community Care Challenge

With 80% of myeloma patients receiving treatment in community oncology practices, ensuring general oncologists are well-versed in newer therapies becomes crucial. To address this need, PeerView, in collaboration with HealthTree Foundation for Multiple Myeloma, launched a comprehensive educational initiative spanning 2022-2023, comprising four live events and five online continuing education activities.

Comprehensive Educational Approach

The program focused on several key areas to enhance physician knowledge:

• Understanding evidence and treatment guidelines for BCMA-directed therapies in relapsed/refractory myeloma, ensuring providers stay current with the latest treatment protocols
• Developing practical strategies to incorporate CD-38 and BCMA antibodies into treatment plans, helping bridge the gap between clinical trials and real-world application
• Managing safety considerations for new therapies, enabling confident implementation of advanced treatments
• Improving patient communication through enhanced counseling and shared decision-making approaches

Measuring Impact: Impressive Results

The initiative reached 13,260 learners, including 8,179 hematologist/oncologists and 1,296 oncology nurses. Comparative analysis between participants and non-participants revealed significant improvements:

• Knowledge of BCMA antibody platforms increased from 45% to 80%
• Treatment planning skills with CD38 and BCMA-targeting antibodies improved from 52% to 88%
• Understanding of safety considerations jumped from 32% to 86%
• Patient interaction skills enhanced from 28% to 86%

Looking Ahead: Ensuring Equal Access

The successful collaboration between PeerView and HealthTree Foundation demonstrates the vital importance of comprehensive education in advancing myeloma care. As new treatments continue to emerge, sustained educational efforts will be essential to ensure equal access to effective therapies for all patients. HealthTree Foundation is committed to fostering knowledge-sharing and patient-centric approaches to ensure that every patient benefits from the latest advances in myeloma care. 

The Role of Specialist Care in Myeloma Treatment

Although this educational initiative helps improve community oncology care, consulting with a myeloma specialist remains crucial for optimal treatment outcomes. Myeloma specialists offer:

• Deep expertise in the latest treatment options
• Experience with novel therapies like CAR T and bispecific antibodies
• Understanding of complex treatment decisions
• Access to clinical trials and innovative approaches

You can find a myeloma specialist near you through HealthTree's comprehensive Myeloma Specialist Directory.

Take Action This Myeloma Awareness Month

During this Multiple Myeloma Awareness Month, your participation in research becomes even more meaningful. Join HealthTree's myeloma community to contribute to important research studies and access valuable educational resources. Together, we can help bridge the treatment gap and ensure every myeloma patient has access to the latest therapeutic advances.

Visit HealthTree Cure Hub to learn how you can make a difference in advancing myeloma care.

Sources: 

• Fostering Collaborative Care in Multiple Myeloma: An Update on the Impact of Holistic Education on Decision-Making with Antibody and CAR-T Platforms
• Fostering collaborative care in multiple myeloma: The impact of holistic education on decision-making with antibody and CAR-T platforms.