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Maximizing Podcasts to Enhance Educational Needs in Oncology Pharmacy Practice

David M. Hughes, PharmD, BCOP
Director, Field Medical (Oncology) Pfizer
New York, NY

Acknowledgement: Jason Mordino, Bernard Marini, Anthony Perissinotti, and John Bossaer for their review of this material.

Podcasting has become increasingly popular in recent years. However, many early, and even seasoned, pharmacists do not maximize the true potential that podcasts may offer. While there has been a strain on many pharmacists that has been heightened by the COVID-19 pandemic, there remains a need to continue to develop both clinically and professionally with limited time. Furthermore, balancing quality of life becomes incredibly challenging. Hence, podcasts are one way, if used efficiently, to fill many of these gaps to help promote balance and enhance skillsets. These are 5 ways to fulfill practice gaps without a demanding time commitment!

1. Enhancing preceptor development
Preceptor development is a fundamental element of pharmacy practice from advanced pharmacy practice experiences (APPEs) to core postgraduate program rotations. It is critical for learners to learn from seasoned preceptors and preceptors have an obligation to further refine skillsets and learn from positive and negative experiences. However, in pharmacy practice, there is lack of prioritization of preceptor development due to time demands of operational and clinical needs of health systems and organizations. Longer, traditional, didactic lectures fail to address the need and pharmacists should seek alternative methods to fulfill this requirement. Precept Responsibly is a new podcast that interviews preceptors across the country and discusses unique challenges in practice. These shorter episodes can be a lighter listen at the end of the day that does not involve pre-reads or proactive preparation. Tune into episodes to hear about ways to integrate learners and advance in your professional career. Not only are they a dynamic listen but also can help fulfill preceptor requirements at your respective institution!

2. Specializing in focus areas of oncology pharmacy practice
Every resident strives to want to know everything there is about oncology and be able to recite primary literature. However, they quickly become self-defeated due to a fast-changing oncology landscape. Some podcasts can enhance knowledge by focusing in on a certain area of oncology pharmacy practice. WolverHeme is a podcast dedicated to those with a hematology focus. Seasoned preceptors will discuss new, controversial data, novel therapies, and new research areas in hematology. Therefore, if you want to grow in bone marrow transplant or malignant hematology, you can listen in to not only learn about the landscape but learn about academic ways to appraise new literature. This podcast makes literature not so intimidating and gives perspective on strong clinical, oncology presence at an academic medical center. Find podcasts like this one in your area of focus. If you focus on breast cancer, there are likely podcasts based on breast cancer research. However, remember, the goal is not to memorize or recite the knowledge, but take seasoned practitioners’ perspective and fine tune your approach!

3. Following FDA updates, new drug approvals, and basics of oncology practice
Oncology drug approvals seem like they occur on a weekly basis. If a new drug is not approved, a drug that is already approved, gets an expanded oncologic indication. Podcasts that offer a more frequent cadence, that address this can help keep oncology pharmacists up to date in real time. OncoPharm is a podcast devoted to recent publications and use of medications as it relates to treating patients with cancer. The weekly nature of the podcast, in short 20-minute segments, makes this an easy listen on a short commute to work every Friday and gives you a perspective on the application to clinical practice. Additionally, periodic episodes will feature fundamentals of oncology practice and focus on basic principles for those new to oncology practice or those starting residency. A second podcast featuring key drug approvals is Drug Information Soundcast in Clinical Oncology (DISCO). This podcast is led by the FDA and provides information on emerging safety data for cancer treatments, current topics in development, and new approvals in oncology. Staying up to date on approvals is one way to always stay ahead of the game to make sure you know how the field is changing!

4. Appraising scientific literature and understanding health policy in oncology care
Being new to oncology practice, it is easy to get caught up in media hype of press releases of larger clinical trials, oftentimes coupled with an FDA drug approval. However, part of differentiating yourself early in your pharmacy career is to look beyond the “flashy” titles and evaluate literature and understand how decisions are made from a regulatory perspective. Plenary Session offers insightful perspective on oncology drug approvals and an analytical perspective on the strength of data supporting it. While many of the topics in this podcast can be controversial, it is critical to think independently and formulate your own decisions that will affect your patient practice. This is just one example of many podcasts that appraise literature and finding and using them to hear new perspectives can be helpful for future analyzing.

5. Post-conference coverage
Within oncology, there are too many conferences to count each year. Some bigger ones, like ASCO and ASH have enormous amounts of data and it can be overwhelming and time consuming to sift through key abstracts. Podcasts can offer conference summaries and/or perspectives on platform or high impact presentations. Occasionally, hosts on podcasts will invite the presenters to do a de-brief on the presentation. Not only do you gain the knowledge of what was presented but also get to listen in to the perspective of the investigator that completed the trial. Even in some of the podcast examples cited above, many of them incorporate post-conference material to make it easier and digestible for their listeners!

Clinical practice can be overwhelming and time consuming. However, it is the responsibility of us, as practitioners, to further enhance our knowledge in the oncology field and in the profession, regardless of practice area. Podcasts offer a streamlined way to supplement more traditional methods of learning. Remember, while helpful, podcasts should not replace other methods. If you are doing a journal club, do not go out and find a podcast that streams a journal club solely that you recite and use. Read the article, come up with your own thought process, then listen to the podcast episode. It will allow you to self-reflect and appreciate what you analyzed and how you could view the literature differently. And finally, a caution: many podcasts are based on perspective/opinions of the host. Make sure the podcasts you listen to are well supported by evidence-based practices. Podcasts are the modernized way to learn and maximizing them will help refine you clinically and professionally.

Additional Resources:
Precept Responsibly

WolverHeme

Oncopharm

Drug Information Soundcast in Clinical Oncology (DISCO)

Plenary Session

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