Abstract
Professional Development Significance & Background: Clinical research is essential to advancing oncology care and improving patient outcomes. Advanced practice providers (APPs) are at the forefront of patient management; however, most receive little to no formal training in clinical research. As a result, APPs may lack confidence in discussing trial opportunities or managing the unique complexities of study participation. This gap can contribute to decreased trial accrual and limit patient access to innovative therapies. Strengthening APP education in this area is critical to supporting high-quality care and expanding patient access to trials. Purpose: This quality improvement initiative aimed to address gaps in clinical research education among APPs. A workshop was designed to increase APP knowledge, confidence, and engagement in clinical research with intended outcomes of improved knowledge, greater confidence, and improved management of patients enrolled on studies. Interventions: A four-hour "Fundamentals of Clinical Research" workshop was developed to educate APPs on the phases of research, adverse event management, and regulatory principles, as well as the APP role in clinical research. The workshop included didactic presentations and interactive case discussions to reinforce practical application. All APPs within the institution were invited to participate. Attendees completed electronic pre- and post-tests to assess changes in knowledge, confidence, and comfort with clinical research topics. Results: Nine APPs completed the pre-survey and seven completed the post-survey. Baseline results showed moderate knowledge and confidence (mean scores 3.1-4.0/5), with lower confidence in discussing trials, identifying eligible patients, and collaborating with research teams. Post-survey results showed substantial improvements across all domains (mean scores 4.5-5.0/5), representing a 35-40% increase. The greatest improvements were in confidence discussing trials, identifying eligible patients, and understanding APP roles in research. Discussion: The "Fundamentals of Clinical Research" workshop demonstrated that a focused educational intervention can significantly improve APP knowledge and confidence in clinical research. These findings are relevant to oncology practice as increasing APP competency in this area has the potential to expand trial access and improve patient outcomes. Incorporating this workshop into APP onboarding could further support early development of research competencies.