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Physicians Reference the NCCN Guidelines First, According to QuantiaMD Survey

By Kathryn Barker, Communications Coordinator

QuantiaMD, an Interactive Physician Community centered on a proprietary, interactive mobile and web platform, recently surveyed its members on their usage of clinical practice guidelines in oncology. Garnering 118 respondents, the guidelines usage survey revealed the physician community’s substantial reliance on and regard for the NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology (NCCN Guidelines™). The NCCN Guidelines™ are the most comprehensive and most frequently updated clinical practice guidelines available in any area of medicine, covering 97 percent of patients with cancer.

When asked which clinical practice guidelines for oncology they reference first, the majority (67 percent) of physicians reported that they utilize the NCCN Guidelines for direction. Other compelling data points followed. Seventy-five percent of respondents believe that they adhere to guidelines 75 percent of the time; 70 percent trust guidelines as practical reference material; 64 percent build pathways and protocols around guidelines; 36 percent said their organization measures their adherence to guidelines; 82 percent reported that they would find concise, interactive guideline interpretations on QuantiaMD “extremely valuable.” The significance of the NCCN Guidelines – the standard of care in oncology – is echoed in these results.

QuantiaMD leverages smartphone technology to enable physicians and health care practitioners (HCP) to participate in educational segments designed specifically for mobile consumption. QuantiaMD provides access for HCPs to view educational content in brief segments, while also allowing them to interact, comment, and post questions to their peers and national experts directly from their mobile devices.

NCCN and QuantiaMD have collaborated on several educational activities. Currently, a 12-minute program, NCCN Prostate Cancer Guidelines Update from the NCCN 15th Annual Conference, is being presented by NCCN and hosted by QuantiaMD. Participants in the program can earn free CME credit and learn the latest in the treatment of prostate cancer; this online activity is also available via mobile applications for iPhone, Android, and BlackBerry.

Indeed, the anticipated success of QuantiaMD programs is based on the medical community’s recognition of the value of mobile technology. Another recent survey conducted by QuantiaMD, with 877 respondents, found that 72 percent of physicians currently carry a smartphone. This survey also indicates that – compared to current educational formats – 65 percent of physicians would be more likely to participate in education that was offered in brief segments on their PC or mobile device. Another study conducted by Manhattan Research projects that physician adoption of smartphones will increase to 81 percent by 2012. 

NCCN also recognizes the growing importance and utility of mobile technology. In June 2010, NCCN launched free mobile apps for Android and iPhone which are available on NCCN.org. These apps provide mobile access to the Complete Library of NCCN Guidelines, which are always available free of charge to registered users of NCCN.org.

For more information on the NCCN Guidelines, or to download your free NCCN Guidelines Mobile app, please visit NCCN.org. For more information about QuantiaMD, including how to download QuantiaMD to your mobile device, go to www.quantiamd.com/about.
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