Identification of Educational Gaps Among Oncologists Who Manage Patients with Pancreatic Cancer.

INTRODUCTION: Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDA) is associated with poor outcomes and presents oncologists with a myriad of clinical challenges. This study was conducted to assess oncologists' practice patterns and to identify the greatest areas of need for future PDA continuing medical education (CME) programs.

METHODS: Case vignettes have been validated as an effective tool to assess how physicians approach and treat a wide array of diseases. In order to assess practice patterns for resectable, locally advanced unresectable, and metastatic PDA, an online case vignette survey was distributed to practicing medical oncologists.

RESULTS: Responses from 150 US-practicing oncologists were analyzed, and several key opportunities for future CME programs were identified. For case 1 (patient with resectable PDA), 44% of oncologists did not select an evidence-based adjuvant chemotherapy regimen. For case 2 (patient with locally advanced PDA who develops metastases and neuropathy after first-line nab-paclitaxel/gemcitabine followed by chemoradiation), 57% of oncologists did not select an evidence-based second-line chemotherapy regimen, and 35% selected a regimen containing oxaliplatin, a chemotherapeutic known to cause neuropathy. For case 3 (patient with a pancreatic mass and liver metastases), only 34% of oncologists recommended a biopsy, chest imaging, and liver function tests which should be standard of care assessments with this presentation. For all three cases, clinical trial referral was selected by fewer than 5% of respondents.

CONCLUSIONS: This study identified appreciable discrepancies between oncologists' recommendations and standard evidence-based guidelines. Well-designed CME programs may help to bridge the educational gaps identified and improve adherence to practice guidelines.