The Meniscus Educational Institute

A virtual lecture of the live satellite symposium held in conjunction with the 34th Annual Congress of the
Oncology Nursing Society on May 2, 2009, in San Antonio, Texas.

Participants cannot claim additional credit for this virtual lecture if they already received credit from the live symposium.

Supported by an educational grant from Celgene Corporation.

Release Date: June 2009
CE Available Until: June 30, 2010

Faculty

Sandra Kurtin, RN, MS, AOCN, ANP
Hematology/Oncology Nurse Practitioner
Arizona Cancer Center
Tucson, Arizona

Beth Faiman, MSN, APRN, BC, AOCN
Nurse Practitioner
Cleveland Clinic Taussig Cancer Center
Cleveland, Ohio

Sergio Giralt, MD
Professor of Medicine
Deputy Chair
Department of Stem Cell Transplantation and Cellular Therapy
University of Texas
MD Anderson Cancer Center
Houston, Texas

Intended Audience

This activity is intended for nurse practitioners and nurses who provide care for patients with hematologic malignancies.

Rationale and Purpose

Laboratory and clinical research discoveries are significantly changing the therapeutic paradigm for patients with hematologic malignancies, including those with myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) and multiple myeloma (MM). Expanding knowledge of the molecular aberrations that produce malignant transformation and the complex intracellular pathways controlling proliferation, progression, and apoptosis is accelerating the discovery of novel targets for anticancer therapies. Novel therapies are being developed at a rapid rate in response to this knowledge, including multifunctional agents, new applications of conventional agents, and changes in the role of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Although these new treatment options offer patients extended survival and hope for improved quality of life outcomes, their swift incorporation into standard of care and movement into community practice pose informational needs and clinical practice challenges for oncology clinicians.

Oncology nurses are the primary providers of direct patient care. Therefore, understanding novel mechanisms of antitumor activity, associated toxicities, and clinical management strategies for these new therapies is critical to safe and effective management of patients receiving them. Many of the emerging therapies may be administered over extended periods of time, and most allow patients to be treated in an outpatient setting, creating unique challenges for health care professionals. Management of disease- or treatment-related adverse events is critical to maintaining therapy and maximizing therapeutic outcomes.

The overall purpose of this activity is to present the latest developments that will enhance state-of-the-art medical care for patients with MDS or MM. By using a case-based tumor board approach, this educational program will support adherence to evidence-based practice and guidelines, allowing better integration of new therapies into clinical practice, with the greatest impact on improving patient outcomes and enhancing quality of life in patients with hematologic malignancies.

Learning Objectives

At the conclusion of this activity, the participant should be better able to

Describe evolving trends and standard of practice changes emerging from recent scientific advances in the management of MDS and MM, including new and revised classification systems, risk stratification, and prognostic and response criteria

Outline key treatment-induced complications associated with newer agents and regimens and related symptom management approaches designed to maximize patient safety, quality of life, and adherence to the
therapeutic regimen

Formulate a plan for integrating current evidence-based recommendations into personal clinical practice routines

Continuing Education

Statement of Credit—Participants who successfully complete this activity (including completion and submission of the evaluation form) will be issued a statement of credit via e-mail or US mail within 4 weeks.

Nurses.
This activity for 1.8 contact hours is provided by the Meniscus Educational Institute.

The Meniscus Educational Institute is accredited as a provider of continuing nursing education by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation.

Accreditation refers to recognition of educational activities only and does not imply approval or endorsement by the Meniscus Educational Institute or the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation of any product mentioned.

Provider approved by the California Board of Registered Nursing, Provider No. 13164, for 1.8 contact hours.

This program has been approved for 1.9 contact hours of continuing education (which includes 0.8 hours of pharmacology) by the American Academy of Nurse Practitioners. Program ID 0903140.

This program was planned in accordance with AANP CE Standards and Policies and AANP Commercial Support Standards.

ANCC Accreditation Feedback Line
1-866-262-9730

The Accreditation Program of the American Nurses Credentialing Center is interested in the opinions and perspectives of the participants in accredited continuing nursing education activities, particularly perspectives related to the presence of perceived bias* in an activity. For this reason, we provide a toll-free telephone number, which participants may call at any time to tell us about

Any noted bias or conflict of interest in the education
Any concerns, compliments, or opinions
A great experience
An unpleasant experience
Your thoughts on the process

Just call and tell us!
1-866-262-9730

*Bias is defined as preferential influence that causes a distortion of opinion or facts. Commercial bias may occur when an educational activity promotes one or more product(s) (drugs, devices, services, software, hardware, etc). This definition is not all inclusive, and participants may use their own interpretation in deciding whether a presentation is biased.

NOTE: statements of commercial support and/or conflict of interest disclosures do not represent bias. Such statements inform the learner that the provider has implemented a mechanism to identify and resolve all conflicts of interest prior to delivery of the educational material.

Financial Disclosures

All individuals in positions to control the content of this program (eg, planners, faculty, content reviewers) are expected to disclose all financial relationships with commercial interests that may have a direct bearing on the subject matter of this continuing education activity. Participants have the responsibility to assess the impact (if any) of the disclosed information on the educational value of the activity. All faculty have been offered a modest honorarium from the accredited provider for their participation in this activity.

Sandra Kurtin, RN, MS, AOCN, ANP-C, Moderator, receives honoraria from Celgene Corporation, Amgen Inc,
sanofi-aventis, Novartis Pharmaceuticals, and Cephalon.

Beth Faiman, MSN, APRN, BC, AOCN, Presenter, is employed or holds a leadership role, is a consultant or has an advisory role, and receives honoraria from Celgene Corporation, Millennium Pharmaceuticals, Inc, Novartis Pharmaceuticals, and Medtronic.

Sergio Giralt, MD, Presenter, serves as a consultant or has an advisory role and receives honoraria from Celgene Corporation, Millennium Pharmaceuticals, Inc, and Kyphon. He also receives honoraria from Genzyme.

Laura Wood, RN, MSN, OCN, Nursing Education Committee Reviewer, receives honoraria from Pfizer Oncology,
Bayer Oncology, and Wyeth Pharmaceuticals.

The Meniscus Educational Institute Staff has nothing to disclose.

Disclaimer

This activity has been designed to provide continuing education that is focused on specific objectives. In selecting educational activities, clinicians should pay special attention to the relevance of those objectives and the application to their particular needs. The intent of all Meniscus Educational Institute educational opportunities is to provide learning that will improve patient care. Clinicians are encouraged to reflect on this activity and its applicability to their own patient population.

The opinions expressed in this activity are those of the faculty and reviewers and do not represent an endorsement by Meniscus Educational Institute (MEI) of any specific therapeutics or approaches to diagnosis or patient management.

Product Disclosures

Reflecting standard oncology/hematology practice, which often requires uses and dosages for therapeutic products that have not been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration, this educational activity includes information about many drugs. All faculty participating in continuing education activities are expected to disclose the approved or investigational status (related to the subject matter of this activity—oncology/hematology) of all products and devices under discussion. This information, as of the time of posting, is summarized briefly in the product disclosure table. In addition, primary references and full prescribing information should be consulted for complete information. Clinicians have the professional responsibility to ensure that drugs are prescribed and used appropriately, based on their own clinical judgment and accepted standards of care.

Select “Yes” if you have reviewed the CE information above and would like to proceed to download the virtual lecture.

Yes

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