Efficacy of a Patient Education Session for Cancer Patients Receiving Immunotherapy

Our research questions include: What are gaps in cancer patients' knowledge about immunotherapy? What is the efficacy of an education session in improving cancer patients' knowledge about immunotherapy and reducing inappropriate emergency department (ED) visits?

From July 2020 to September 2021, we invited cancer patients receiving immunotherapy to participate in a one-on-one patient education session and pre-test/post-test surveys. The patient education session included an oral presentation following National Comprehensive Cancer Network guidelines, video on immunotherapy mechanisms of action, and review of written materials and alert cards. The surveys assessed patient knowledge of immunotherapies' mechanisms of action, adverse effects and their management, and health literacy. Survey data were paired with data abstracted from the electronic health record on patient ED utilization and demographic characteristics.

Before the education session, knowledge gaps about immunotherapy included understanding the medical term "itis," side effects of immunotherapy, and treatment for side effects of immunotherapy. Overall, the education session significantly improved cancer patients' knowledge about immunotherapy. The education session addressed knowledge gaps by significantly increasing patients' knowledge of immunotherapy mechanisms of action, recognition of side effects, and ability to define the medical term "itis". Because our sample had low inappropriate ED utilization, we could not assess the impact of the education session on inappropriate ED utilization.

A multicomponent strategy for patient education was effective in improving overall knowledge uptake, especially among patients who initially had the least knowledge. Future studies should continue to explore whether patient education decreases inappropriate ED utilization.