# Multi-Modal Interprofessional Training to Improve Chemotherapy Safety

> **NIH NIH R25** · UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN AT ANN ARBOR · 2020 · $237,983

## Abstract

Chemotherapy is a high-volume, high-risk clinical intervention that involves the care of an interprofessional
team. Interprofessional education (IPE) is a crucial ingredient to improved quality and safety of healthcare
services. Despite the established benefits of IPE, clinicians routinely train in silos, particularly outside of
academic health centers. The glaring absence of IPE among experienced clinicians is astounding; more so in
the context of chemotherapy safety where the stakes are so high. Novel pedagogies are needed to assure
experienced clinicians receive ongoing evidence-based training. The Institute of Medicine and others have
endorsed interprofessional education to improve knowledge and skills surrounding high-risk care delivery, such
as chemotherapy. We are not aware of any training programs that include different professions and use virtual
training methods to improve the safety of chemotherapy administration. Our preliminary data suggest that
knowledge on these topics is suboptimal and ongoing interprofessional training is scarce. We propose a novel
project that develops, refines, and evaluates a training program for high-risk chemotherapy scenarios, targeted
to practicing nurses and pharmacists. Three specific aims are proposed: 1) Develop and deliver an
interprofessional chemotherapy safety curriculum; 2) Evaluate the effectiveness of an
interprofessional chemotherapy safety curriculum on learner and health outcomes, and; 3) Develop
and evaluate supplemental digital resources to reinforce chemotherapy safety knowledge and skills.
Our interdisciplinary team of experts will develop, deliver, and evaluate content for a one-day, in-person
workshop at the brand-new University of Michigan School of Nursing. Topics will include safe handling of
hazardous drugs like chemotherapy, management of oncology emergencies, extravasations, and patients
receiving oral chemotherapy, and clinical practice change. A combination of lectures, case studies, and
simulation techniques will be used. After the workshop, participants will be able to view content on-demand
and complete additional training to retain key concepts. Over five years, we will offer seven workshops with up
for 60 nurse and pharmacist participants (total n= 420). We will use Kirkpatrick's framework to evaluate the
effects of the training on usability, acceptability, knowledge, perceived practice change, and perceived benefits.
We combine didactic and practical training in an engaging, on-demand application to improve knowledge and
skill and facilitate practice change. A more informed oncology workforce will likely reduce the burden of
adverse chemotherapy events on patients and providers.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9996514
- **Project number:** 5R25CA214227-04
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN AT ANN ARBOR
- **Principal Investigator:** CHRISTOPHER R FRIESE
- **Activity code:** R25 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $237,983
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2017-09-01 → 2022-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9996514

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9996514, Multi-Modal Interprofessional Training to Improve Chemotherapy Safety (5R25CA214227-04). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9996514. Licensed CC0.

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