Impact of Breast Cancer Early Detection Training on Rwandan Health Workers’ Knowledge and Skills
Purpose: In April 2015, we initiated a training program to facilitate earlier diagnosis of breast cancer among women with breast symptoms in rural Rwanda. The goal of this study was to assess the impact of the training intervention in breast cancer detection on knowledge and skills among health cent...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
American Society of Clinical Oncology
2018-01-01
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| Series: | Journal of Global Oncology |
| Online Access: | http://ascopubs.org/doi/10.1200/JGO.17.00098 |
| _version_ | 1828965843710509056 |
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| author | Lydia E. Pace Jean-Marie Vianney Dusengimana Nancy L. Keating Vedaste Hategekimana Vestine Rugema Jean Bosco Bigirimana Ainhoa Costas-Chavarri Aline Umwizera Paul H. Park Lawrence N. Shulman Tharcisse Mpunga |
| author_facet | Lydia E. Pace Jean-Marie Vianney Dusengimana Nancy L. Keating Vedaste Hategekimana Vestine Rugema Jean Bosco Bigirimana Ainhoa Costas-Chavarri Aline Umwizera Paul H. Park Lawrence N. Shulman Tharcisse Mpunga |
| author_sort | Lydia E. Pace |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Purpose: In April 2015, we initiated a training program to facilitate earlier diagnosis of breast cancer among women with breast symptoms in rural Rwanda. The goal of this study was to assess the impact of the training intervention in breast cancer detection on knowledge and skills among health center nurses and community health workers (CHWs). Methods: We assessed nurses’ and CHWs’ knowledge about breast cancer risk factors, signs and symptoms, and treatability through a written test administered immediately before, immediately after, and 3 months after trainings. We assessed nurses’ skills in clinical breast examination immediately before and after trainings and then during ongoing mentorship by a nurse midwife. We also examined the appropriateness of referrals made to the hospital by health center nurses. Results: Nurses’ and CHWs’ written test scores improved substantially after the trainings (overall percentage correct increased from 73.9% to 91.3% among nurses and from 75.0% to 93.8% among CHWs (P < .001 for both), and this improvement was sustained 3 months after the trainings. On checklists that assessed skills, nurses’ median percentage of actions performed correctly was 24% before the training. Nurses’ skills improved significantly after the training and were maintained during the mentorship period (the median score was 88% after training and during mentorship; P < .001). In total, 96.1% of patients seen for breast concerns at the project’s hospital-based clinic were deemed to have been appropriately referred. Conclusion: Nurses and CHWs demonstrated substantially improved knowledge about breast cancer and skills in evaluating and managing breast concerns after brief trainings. With adequate training, mentorship, and established care delivery and referral systems, primary health care providers in sub-Saharan Africa can play a critical role in earlier detection of breast cancer. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-14T11:19:45Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-c32ce1c101184282be35cfc50ea7b29e |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2378-9506 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-14T11:19:45Z |
| publishDate | 2018-01-01 |
| publisher | American Society of Clinical Oncology |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Global Oncology |
| spelling | doaj.art-c32ce1c101184282be35cfc50ea7b29e2022-12-21T23:03:48ZengAmerican Society of Clinical OncologyJournal of Global Oncology2378-95062018-01-01411010.1200/JGO.17.0009816Impact of Breast Cancer Early Detection Training on Rwandan Health Workers’ Knowledge and SkillsLydia E. PaceJean-Marie Vianney DusengimanaNancy L. KeatingVedaste HategekimanaVestine RugemaJean Bosco BigirimanaAinhoa Costas-ChavarriAline UmwizeraPaul H. ParkLawrence N. ShulmanTharcisse MpungaPurpose: In April 2015, we initiated a training program to facilitate earlier diagnosis of breast cancer among women with breast symptoms in rural Rwanda. The goal of this study was to assess the impact of the training intervention in breast cancer detection on knowledge and skills among health center nurses and community health workers (CHWs). Methods: We assessed nurses’ and CHWs’ knowledge about breast cancer risk factors, signs and symptoms, and treatability through a written test administered immediately before, immediately after, and 3 months after trainings. We assessed nurses’ skills in clinical breast examination immediately before and after trainings and then during ongoing mentorship by a nurse midwife. We also examined the appropriateness of referrals made to the hospital by health center nurses. Results: Nurses’ and CHWs’ written test scores improved substantially after the trainings (overall percentage correct increased from 73.9% to 91.3% among nurses and from 75.0% to 93.8% among CHWs (P < .001 for both), and this improvement was sustained 3 months after the trainings. On checklists that assessed skills, nurses’ median percentage of actions performed correctly was 24% before the training. Nurses’ skills improved significantly after the training and were maintained during the mentorship period (the median score was 88% after training and during mentorship; P < .001). In total, 96.1% of patients seen for breast concerns at the project’s hospital-based clinic were deemed to have been appropriately referred. Conclusion: Nurses and CHWs demonstrated substantially improved knowledge about breast cancer and skills in evaluating and managing breast concerns after brief trainings. With adequate training, mentorship, and established care delivery and referral systems, primary health care providers in sub-Saharan Africa can play a critical role in earlier detection of breast cancer.http://ascopubs.org/doi/10.1200/JGO.17.00098 |
| spellingShingle | Lydia E. Pace Jean-Marie Vianney Dusengimana Nancy L. Keating Vedaste Hategekimana Vestine Rugema Jean Bosco Bigirimana Ainhoa Costas-Chavarri Aline Umwizera Paul H. Park Lawrence N. Shulman Tharcisse Mpunga Impact of Breast Cancer Early Detection Training on Rwandan Health Workers’ Knowledge and Skills Journal of Global Oncology |
| title | Impact of Breast Cancer Early Detection Training on Rwandan Health Workers’ Knowledge and Skills |
| title_full | Impact of Breast Cancer Early Detection Training on Rwandan Health Workers’ Knowledge and Skills |
| title_fullStr | Impact of Breast Cancer Early Detection Training on Rwandan Health Workers’ Knowledge and Skills |
| title_full_unstemmed | Impact of Breast Cancer Early Detection Training on Rwandan Health Workers’ Knowledge and Skills |
| title_short | Impact of Breast Cancer Early Detection Training on Rwandan Health Workers’ Knowledge and Skills |
| title_sort | impact of breast cancer early detection training on rwandan health workers knowledge and skills |
| url | http://ascopubs.org/doi/10.1200/JGO.17.00098 |
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