(228) The Impact of Virtual Education on Patient and Caregiver Understanding of Chemotherapy Regimens (TEACH)

Poster Abstract:

Background: The Veterans Health Administration (VHA) provides care to over 9 million Veterans across the United States, Puerto Rico, Guam, the Virgin Islands, and the Philippines.1 Each year, more than 43,000 Veterans are diagnosed with cancer and roughly 450,000 receive cancer treatment at VHA.2 Oncology pharmacists across VHA routinely utilize telehealth for oral chemotherapy management. The benefits of utilizing oncology pharmacists include thorough medication education, improved adherence, medication-related cost savings, and high levels of patient satisfaction.3,4 While telehealth has greatly improved access to care, an ongoing need remains for chemotherapy education. Historically, educational handouts are utilized for patient education. These handouts can be overwhelming, especially for patients of lower health literacy, and easily misplaced. Veterans would benefit from easily accessible, virtual medication education to view on their own time and share with caregivers to improve knowledge of treatment.

Objective: Improve Veteran and caregiver understanding of chemotherapy regimens by providing supplemental videos to educate on common side effects and safe handling of chemotherapy.

Methods: Two educational videos, side effects of cytotoxic drugs and safe handling of oral chemotherapy, were created utilizing PowerPoint with voiceover. The videos were submitted to the Madison VA Public Affairs department for approval and posting on the VHA national YouTube channel. Handouts were developed, including instructions on how to access the videos and anonymous surveys for Veterans and caregivers to respond to rating the usefulness of the videos. Following in person pharmacist-led chemotherapy education, Veterans were asked to voluntarily review the videos and complete the survey. If agreeable, they received two pre-addressed envelopes that included one survey and on instruction document each and were asked to mail survey responses back. The second survey way included to share with a caregiver. A virtual survey was also developed using Qualtrics with details on how to access available on the instruction sheet. Results of the anonymous surveys were collected and analyzed using descriptive statistics.

Results: Pending.

Discussion: Data collection remains ongoing to date. Veterans and caregivers thus far have unanimously agreed that the educational videos were easy to understand, improved their understanding of their chemotherapy treatment, and that they would share the videos with other patients receiving cancer treatment. These preliminary results support the project objective and strongly suggests that additional patient educational videos should be created to increase patient understanding of chemotherapy. Asynchronous virtual patient educational videos have the potential to improve patient and caregiver access to chemotherapy education.

References (must also be included in final poster): 1. About VHA. U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Updated November 8, 2023. Accessed December 29, 2023. https://www.va.gov/health/aboutVHA.asp#:~:text=The%20Veterans%20Health%20Administration%20%28VHA%29%20is%20the%20largest,Veterans%20enrolled%20in%20the%20VA%20health%20care%20program.
2. VISN 12 – VA Great Lakes Health Care System. U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Updated May 5, 2023. Accessed December 29, 2023. https://www.visn12.va.gov/about/leadership.asp#:~:text=VISN%2012%20offers%20health%20care%20services%20to%20almost,community%20living%20center%20beds%20and%20442%20domiciliary%20beds.
3. Passey D, Healy R, Qualls J, et al. Development and implementation of a pharmacist-led telehealth medication management program for veterans receiving oral antineoplastic therapies through the MISSION Act. Am J Health Syst Pharm. 2022;79(11):835-843.
4. Sargent W, Whalley A. Implementation and outcomes of a pharmacist-led oral chemotherapy clinic at VA Maine Healthcare System. J Oncol Pharm Pract. 2022;28(8):1704-1708.