Background
The Optimal Care Pathways (OCPs) have been developed to facilitate consistent, safe, high quality, evidence-based cancer care and GPs have an important role in the prevention, assessment and early detection of cancer.
Implementing PAthways for Cancer Early Diagnosis; Multimodal Education (I-PACED ME) was a collaborative project between Cancer Council Victoria (CCV) and The University of Melbourne to increase GP awareness of the critical primary care points and clinical care along the prostate and oesophagogastric cancer OCPs. To facilitate state-wide application, a multi-modal education and training program was implemented.
Aims
To identify effective ways to engage general practice in early diagnosis and referral; specifically reach and cost-effectiveness.
Methods:
A suite of education modalities encompassing eLearning, webinars, didactic face-to-face forums, academic detailing sessions and online e-learning activities were undertaken.
Results:
A total of 1580 GPs were educated using the various education modes. The reach of webinars was the most extensive (1081 participants for prostate and 416 for the oesophagogastric webinars, respectively) and yielded a low cost/participant when compared with alternative modes of delivery. A total of 12 GP practices received academic detailing visits reaching 39 GPs and 1 practice nurse. Academic detailing was resource intensive, however when compared alongside other education modes, is likely to be cost comparable and more effective in the uptake of messages. Didactic face-to-face forums were the most expensive mode with only 22 GPs attending 4 events and 3 additional events cancelled. Two Cancer Council Victoria-led e-learning modules, whilst continuing to be available, have yielded low completion rates to date.
Conclusion
The I-PACED ME project demonstrated the effectiveness of strong partnerships and the value of investment in tailored academic detailing and webinars rather than didactic face-to-face modes of education.