STATEMENT OF NEED

Head and neck cancers represent a heterogeneous group of tumors that originate in the lip/oral cavity, hypopharynx, oropharynx, nasopharynx, and larynx. An estimated 66,470 new cases are diagnosed in the United States annually, and 15,050 people die of the disease (Siegel et al, 2022). Approximately 90% of cases are classified as head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). Treatment of HNSCC is complicated by numerous factors, including differing therapeutic strategies based on tumor location and stage, human papillomavirus (HPV) status, the need to preserve surrounding organs and tissues, and impacts on quality of life (NCCN, 2023). Remaining up to date on emerging treatment options and management strategies for HNSCC is vital. This activity led by Assuntina Sacco, MD, Associate Professor of Medicine at Moores Cancer Center of UC San Diego Health, will provide new insights and real-world guidance for improved outcomes in recurrent and metastatic HNSCC.

TARGET AUDIENCE

Medical oncologists, surgical oncologists, radiation oncologists, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, oncology nurses, and other health care professionals involved in the treatment of patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC).

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

Upon completion of this activity, participants should be able to:

•  Distinguish histopathological, molecular, and clinical biomarkers that can inform prognosis and management of HNSCC
• Incorporate emerging efficacy and safety data on novel immune checkpoint inhibitors into personalized care plans for patients with advanced recurrent/metastatic HNSCC
• Apply strategies to prevent and mitigate immune-mediated adverse events
• Evaluate supportive care measures that can help optimize survivorship care in patients who have received treatment for advanced recurrent/metastatic HNSCC

REGISTRATION

There is no fee to participate in or claim CME/NCPD credit for this activity.

PROVIDED BY

PHYSICIANS

i3 Health is accredited by the American Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to provide continuing medical education for physicians. 

i3 Health designates this enduring activity for a maximum of 1.0 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Successful completion of this CME activity, which includes participation in the evaluation component, enables the participant to earn up to 1.0 Medical Knowledge MOC points in the American Board of Internal Medicine’s (ABIM) Maintenance of Certification (MOC) program. Participants will earn MOC points equivalent to the amount of CME credits claimed for the activity. It is the CME activity provider’s responsibility to submit participant completion information to ACCME for the purpose of granting ABIM MOC credit.

By providing this information, participants are agreeing to allow i3 Health to share this information with the ACCME.

Physician Assistants

American Academy of Physician Assistants (AAPA) accepts certificates of participation for educational activities approved for AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™ from organizations accredited by ACCME. Physician assistants may receive a maximum of 1.0 hour of Category 1 credit for completing this program.

Nurse Practitioners

The American Academy of Nurse Practitioners Certification Program (AANPCP) accepts AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™ from organizations accredited by the ACCME. Individuals are responsible for checking with the AANPCP for further guidelines.

Nursing Continuing Professional Development

i3 Health is accredited with distinction as a provider of nursing continuing professional development by the American Nurses Credentialing Center's Commission on Accreditation.

A maximum of 1.0 contact hour may be earned by learners who successfully complete this nursing continuing professional development activity. This activity has been designated for .9 contact hours of pharmacotherapy credit for Advanced Practice Registered Nurses.

Provider approved by the California Board of Registered Nursing, Provider Number 15824, for 1.0 contact hour. 

ONCC RECERTIFICATION

The program content has been reviewed by the Oncology Nursing Certification Corporation (ONCC) and is acceptable for recertification points.

ONCC review is only for designating content to be used for recertification points and is not for NCPD accreditation. NCPD programs must be formally approved for contact hours by an acceptable accreditor/approver of NCPD to be used for recertification by ONCC. If the NCPD provider fails to obtain formal approval to award contact hours by an acceptable accrediting/approval body, no information related to ONCC recertification may be used in relation to the program. OCN®, CPHON®, CBCN®, AOCNP®, AOCNS®, and BMTCN® renewal candidates may apply 1.0 ILNA points toward: 

• Care Continuum (OCN®, CBCN®, CPHON®, AOCNP®)
• Oncologic Emergencies (OCN®, CPHON®, AOCNP®)
• Oncology Nursing Practice (OCN®)
• Psychosocial Dimensions of Care (AOCNP®, CPHON®, OCN®, CBCN®)
• Symptom Management, Palliative Care, Supportive Care (OCN®, CPHON®, AOCNP®)
• Treatment (OCN®, CBCN®, AOCNP®, CPHON®)

Please note that some of the course content applies to multiple content areas. The numerical value above indicates the maximum amount of points that can be claimed in each domain. The total amount of ILNA points claimed may not exceed the total amount of NCPD awarded from this course.

DISCLOSURE OF RELEVANT FINANCIAL INFORMATION WITH INELIGIBLE COMPANIES

i3 Health endorses the standards of the ACCME and ANCC that require everyone in a position to control the content of a CME/NCPD activity to disclose all financial relationships with ineligible companies that are related to the content of the CME/NCPD activity. CME/NCPD activities must be balanced, independent of commercial bias, and promote improvements or quality in health care. All recommendations involving clinical medicine must be based on evidence accepted within the medical profession.

A conflict of interest is created when an individual has an opportunity to affect CME/NCPD content about products or services of an ineligible company with which he/she has a financial relationship, which therefore may bias their opinions and teaching. This may include receiving a salary, royalty, intellectual property rights, consulting fee, honoraria, stocks, or other financial benefits.

i3 Health will identify, review, and mitigate all relevant financial relationships that speakers, authors, or planners disclose prior to an educational activity being delivered to learners. Disclosure of a relationship is not intended to suggest or condone bias in any presentation but is made to provide participants with information that might be of potential importance to their evaluation of a presentation. i3 Health does not endorse any products or services.

Relevant financial relationships exist between the following individuals and ineligible companies:

The i3 Health planners, reviewers, and managers have nothing to disclose.

Assuntina G. Sacco, MD, discloses that she has served on an advisory board or panel for Bicara, that she has served as a consultant for First Thought, and that she has received grants/research support from Bicara, Merck, and Nektar.

i3 Health has mitigated all relevant financial relationships.

INSTRUCTIONS TO RECEIVE CREDIT

In order to receive credit for this activity, participants must attend the scheduled activity and submit a completed evaluation at the end of the activity.

TECHNOLOGY REQUIREMENTS FOR VIRTUAL CME | NCPD ACTIVITIES

For virtual (asynchronous, archived live, home study; synchronous webinars) CME/NCPD activities, include access to system requirements:

• The Internet browser(s) supported and minimum versions of each required by the learner to complete the online activity.
• The minimum memory, storage, processor, and Internet speeds require by the learner to complete the online activity.

UNAPPROVED USE DISCLOSURE

i3 Health requires CME/NCPD faculty (speakers) to disclose to attendees when products or procedures being discussed are off-label, unlabeled, experimental, and/or investigational (not FDA approved), as well as any limitations on the information that is presented, such as data that are preliminary or that represent ongoing research, interim analyses, and/or unsupported opinion. Faculty may discuss information about pharmaceutical agents that is outside of U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved labeling.

This information is intended solely for continuing medical education and is not intended to promote off-label use of these medications. If you have questions, contact the medical affairs department of the manufacturer for the most recent prescribing information.

DISCLAIMER

The information provided at this CME/NCPD activity is for continuing education purposes only and is not meant to substitute for the independent medical/clinical judgment of a health care provider relative to diagnostic and treatment options of a specific patient’s medical condition.

COMMERCIAL SUPPORT

This activity is supported by an independent educational grant from Merck.

CONTACT INFORMATION

Technical queries or questions regarding activity credit should be directed to i3 Health at support@i3health.com.