Abstracts
PO92
Patient-Reported Impact of a Bispecific Antibody Therapy Educational Webinar for Individuals with Multiple Myeloma
Introduction/Background/Significance: Bispecific antibodies (BsAb) are increasingly used in multiple myeloma (MM), but patient understanding of their mechanism, toxicity, logistics and access requirements may affect shared decision making. We evaluated a physician-lead patient centered educational webinar designed to improve understanding and readiness to discuss Bispecific antibody therapy.
Materials and Methods/Case Presentation/Objective: This study was an observational pre-post survey conducted in partnership with the HealthTree Foundation. Adult MM patients (≥18 years) enrolled in HealthTree or registered for the webinar completed parallel surveys immediately before and after a live, virtual educational webinar led by a myeloma specialist discussing the mechanism, efficacy, safety, and logistics of bispecific antibody treatment. Five-point ordinal scales assessed self-reported ability to explain BsAb therapy, willingness to accept BsAb therapy if physician-recommended, and perceived logistical manageability. Multi-select items assessed treatment concerns and priorities. Participants also self-reported demographic data, including race and ethnicity, with the primary analysis using the full-cohort race as a covariate. Ordinal responses were mapped to numeric scores and compared using Wilcoxon signed-rank tests; categorical responses were summarized descriptively using respondent and paired proportions.
Results/Description/Main Outcome Measure(s): Among 150 webinar attendees, 20 (19%) initiated the survey, 17 completed baseline survey items, and 10 completed the full pre/post survey. Depending on the endpoint, 10-12 participants contributed paired pre/post outcomes. The median age among respondents was 68 years. Of the respondents, 15/29 (52%) identified as Black/African American and 13/29 (45%) as White. None reported prior BsAb exposure. Baseline self-reported understanding was limited: 8/17 (47%) reported low or no ability to explain BsAb therapy, with a mean score of 2.53 on a 1-4 scale. Among paired respondents (n=12), mean literacy increased from 2.58 to 3.17 after education (mean change +0.58, Wilcoxon two-sided p=0.039; p=0.020); 8/12 (67%) participants improved individually. Perceived logistical manageability also increased directionally. The proportion reporting that therapy would be "very difficult" or require significant assistance decreased from 7/17 (41%) at baseline to 1/10 (10%) post-education. Among paired respondents, mean manageability score increased from 3.90 to 4.20, although this change was not statistically significant (p=0.25).
Conclusion(s).: A patient centered webinar demonstrated improvements in self-reported understanding of bispecific antibody therapy, with directional improvements in willingness and perceived manageability. However, important concerns regarding toxicity and access persisted. Though this pilot is limited by small, paired sample size and survey completion rates, these findings support the development of early structured educational interventions that improve patient health literacy. Such interventions are essential to addressing the real-world barriers for patients to accessing and completing bispecific antibody therapy. Similar ongoing pilots are underway for chimeric antigen receptor therapy (CAR-T) and other novel multiple myeloma treatments.
Trademarked Items:
References:
Materials and Methods/Case Presentation/Objective: This study was an observational pre-post survey conducted in partnership with the HealthTree Foundation. Adult MM patients (≥18 years) enrolled in HealthTree or registered for the webinar completed parallel surveys immediately before and after a live, virtual educational webinar led by a myeloma specialist discussing the mechanism, efficacy, safety, and logistics of bispecific antibody treatment. Five-point ordinal scales assessed self-reported ability to explain BsAb therapy, willingness to accept BsAb therapy if physician-recommended, and perceived logistical manageability. Multi-select items assessed treatment concerns and priorities. Participants also self-reported demographic data, including race and ethnicity, with the primary analysis using the full-cohort race as a covariate. Ordinal responses were mapped to numeric scores and compared using Wilcoxon signed-rank tests; categorical responses were summarized descriptively using respondent and paired proportions.
Results/Description/Main Outcome Measure(s): Among 150 webinar attendees, 20 (19%) initiated the survey, 17 completed baseline survey items, and 10 completed the full pre/post survey. Depending on the endpoint, 10-12 participants contributed paired pre/post outcomes. The median age among respondents was 68 years. Of the respondents, 15/29 (52%) identified as Black/African American and 13/29 (45%) as White. None reported prior BsAb exposure. Baseline self-reported understanding was limited: 8/17 (47%) reported low or no ability to explain BsAb therapy, with a mean score of 2.53 on a 1-4 scale. Among paired respondents (n=12), mean literacy increased from 2.58 to 3.17 after education (mean change +0.58, Wilcoxon two-sided p=0.039; p=0.020); 8/12 (67%) participants improved individually. Perceived logistical manageability also increased directionally. The proportion reporting that therapy would be "very difficult" or require significant assistance decreased from 7/17 (41%) at baseline to 1/10 (10%) post-education. Among paired respondents, mean manageability score increased from 3.90 to 4.20, although this change was not statistically significant (p=0.25).
At baseline, the most common concerns were severe side effects (13/17, 77%), uncertainty about efficacy (6/17, 35%), travel/lodging costs (6/17, 35%), and treatment-related logistics/travel time (5/17, 29%). Post-education, severe side effects remained the dominant concern (8/11, 73%), while logistical and cost-related concerns diminished. Amongst the treatment priorities assessed-safety, efficacy, physician trust, logistics, and representation of Black patients in efficacy data; race-concordant evidence was selected by 8/17 (47%) at baseline and 6/10 (60%) post-education.
Conclusion(s).: A patient centered webinar demonstrated improvements in self-reported understanding of bispecific antibody therapy, with directional improvements in willingness and perceived manageability. However, important concerns regarding toxicity and access persisted. Though this pilot is limited by small, paired sample size and survey completion rates, these findings support the development of early structured educational interventions that improve patient health literacy. Such interventions are essential to addressing the real-world barriers for patients to accessing and completing bispecific antibody therapy. Similar ongoing pilots are underway for chimeric antigen receptor therapy (CAR-T) and other novel multiple myeloma treatments.
Trademarked Items:
References:
