INCORPORATING NURSES AND ADVANCED PRACTICE PROVIDERS INTO CLINICAL TRIAL CONSORTIUMS; RESULTS OF A MULTI-INSTITUTIONAL SURVEY FROM THE PACIFIC PEDIATRIC NEURO-ONCOLOGY CONSORTIUM (PNOC)

Abstract BACKGROUND: Incorporation of nurses and advanced practice providers (APPs) creates an opportunity to enhance the work of clinical trial consortia in providing care to children with central nervous system tumors enrolled on clinical trials. Within PNOC, nurses and APPs led an effort to engage nurse scientists in collaborative work. A formalized APP and nursing committee confirmed multi-institutional interest for this effort via a widely distributed, electronic survey. OBJECTIVES: The primary aim was to assess the need for a nursing and APP committee by surveying nurses, APPs, physicians, and CRCs across academic institutions within US and international sites. A secondary aim was to explore educational needs of nurses and APPs and establish resources to augment clinical trial protocol initiation and compliance. METHODS: A de-identified, electronic Qualtrics survey was distributed to all PNOC member institutions in Fall 2021. Participants were divided into 3 groups: physicians, nurses or APPs, and CRCs. RESULTS: A total of 68 participants from 20 different institutions completed surveys. All groups confirmed support for a formalized nursing and APP committee within PNOC. Nurses requested education on targeted therapies, specific study protocols, general neuro-oncology information, and late effects. Barriers for nurse participation included lack of dedicated time (50%) and travel funding for conferences (39%). The surveys elicited physicians overwhelmingly identified key needs for APP or nursing involvement in standardizing protocolized care across institutions (100%), education for patients and staff (95%), and protocol development (89%). CONCLUSIONS: Based on multi-institutional survey results, a nursing and APP working group has been established within PNOC. In response to the needs-based survey, the working group provides a quarterly nursing newsletter, offers education sessions and mentorship opportunities, and participates in multi-disciplinary, disease-specific working groups. Future efforts will review the impact of this committee on protocol development and compliance and overall clinical care of pediatric neuro-oncology patients.