2494 - CAR-T Nursing Education at a UK Specialist Cancer Hospital

Background

CAR-T cells are a new cancer treatment, where T cells are taken from the patient and modified in a laboratory to target cancer cells. There have been some promising results from early clinical trials, which have led to two products being made available to patients in the NHS. Axicabtagene ciloleucel for relapsed/refractory B-cell lymphoma patients and tisagenlecleucel for relapsed/refractory B-cell lymphoma patients and relapsed/refractory B-ALL patients under the age of 25. There are multiple clinical trials in progress throughout Europe, mostly in the haematology setting, with some in oncology. There are significant toxicities to this treatment modality and this is a complex heavily pre-treated patient population. Education of the wider nursing and multi professional team is therefore crucial. A new Lecturer Practitioner role was established, to focus on CAR-T. This poster explores nurses’ learning needs associated with introducing CAR-T therapy in a specialist cancer hospital in London, UK.

Methods

Data has been collected through evaluation of previous nursing educational initiatives in CAR-T therapy, which aimed to identify further learning needs. Further data collection is in development.

Results

Although this work is on-going, initial findings indicate that nurses require more education and support particularly around managing toxicities and patient expectations. Challenges for educating nurses also include uncertainties around the long-term effects of this treatment modality.

Conclusions

CAR-T therapy is being implemented at multiple centres throughout the UK/Europe and it is evident that there are a multitude of future opportunities for career development for nurses in this area. The role of a Lecturer Practitioner in CAR-T at a specialist cancer hospital has been created to address some of the educational needs of the nursing and multi-professional team. The post holder is involved in a wide range of educational initiatives, from national bespoke study days and academic cancer care modules to ward based teaching. It is clear that there is a need for a role that combines clinical practice and academia, bridging the theory to practice gap and providing expert clinical knowledge to nurses caring for these patients.

Clinical trial identification

Editorial acknowledgement

Legal entity responsible for the study

The authors.

Funding

Has not received any funding.

Disclosure

R. Ellard: Honoraria (self): MolMed; Speaker Bureau / Expert testimony, Travel / Accommodation / Expenses: Kite Gilead. All other authors have declared no conflicts of interest.