KNOWLEDGE ON THE USE OF BIOSIMILARS IN HAEMATOLOGICAL MALIGNANCIES AMONGST HEALTHCARE WORKERS AT A TERTIARY HOSPITAL...

Haematological malignancies like other cancers are on the rise. With the improved understanding of the biology of cancers, various biological molecules (biologics and biosimilars) are being discovered and used as supportive and/or specific treatment options. These novel treatments have revolutionized the care of cancer patients and significantly improved survival. While biosimilars are widely available, their use is still limited in some low- and middle-income countries, including Nigeria. Barriers to the use of biosimilars in cancer care include poor knowledge of stakeholders, financial disincentives, and unfavourable regulatory policies. This study aimed to determine the knowledge of healthcare workers (HCWs) at a tertiary hospital in Bauchi, Nigeria, before and after a structured training program on the use of biosimilars in haematological malignancies.

Healthcare workers underwent a week-long training on biosimilars. Knowledge pre- and post-training were ascertained using interviewer-administered questionnaires. Participant data were summarized as percentages in charts and tables and compared using the Z-test in Microsoft Excel 2016. P values≤0.05 were considered significant.

One hundred and sixty-one (161) participants attended the training, with females constituting 56.5%. Participant knowledge of cancer and haematological malignancies was significantly higher after training (82.1% vs. 61.5%; Z = 4.1, p < 0.001). Similarly, post-test scores assessing knowledge of biologics and biosimilars used in haematological malignancies were significantly higher than pre-test scores (80.0% vs. 44.1%; Z= 6.6, p < 0.001).

Knowledge of biosimilars and their use in haematological malignancies was low amongst HCWs, but improved significantly after an educational program.