WCLC 2025 - Posters & ePosters-P1.17.33 Addressing Educational Gaps in Lung Cancer Care: Insights Based on Global Practice Setting and Experience

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This analysis, presented at the 2025 World Conference on Lung Cancer, evaluated how oncologists' practice settings and years of experience influence their understanding and management of lung cancer. Data were aggregated from 63 online, CME-certified educational activities conducted globally between 2023 and 2025, including pre- and post-education assessments measuring knowledge, competence, and confidence across key clinical domains.<br /><br />Key findings indicated that recent educational interventions significantly improved oncologists' knowledge and confidence in managing lung cancer worldwide, independent of years in practice. However, baseline knowledge was generally lower among U.S. oncologists compared to their global counterparts, and U.S. clinicians showed smaller relative improvements after the education. Early-career oncologists (under 5 years of practice) demonstrated the largest knowledge gaps but were most responsive to educational efforts, showing substantial gains across themes such as comprehensive work-up, awareness of disparities, treatment decision tailoring, multidisciplinary team (MDT) collaboration, patient-centered care, and applying evolving clinical data.<br /><br />Persistent challenges remain, especially in multidisciplinary collaboration, prioritizing patient values, and integrating rapidly evolving clinical trial data and biomarker information into practice. This underscores the critical need for tailored and ongoing education that addresses these areas to optimize lung cancer care.<br /><br />While educational activities had a positive impact on knowledge and confidence, the true effect on clinical practice and patient outcomes requires further investigation and targeted interventions. This study highlights the importance of considering practice environment and experience levels in designing effective lung cancer educational programs to bridge gaps and promote best practices globally.<br /><br />Educational grants for this work were supported by multiple pharmaceutical companies, and ongoing correspondence is available through the study's senior director, Michelle A. Worst.

Asset Subtitle

Michelle Worst

Meta Tag

Speaker Michelle Worst

Topic Global Health, Health Services, and Health Economics

Keywords

lung cancer

oncologists

educational interventions

knowledge improvement

practice settings

years of experience

multidisciplinary team collaboration

patient-centered care

clinical trial data integration

global oncology education