The effectiveness of an abbreviated training program for health workers in breast cancer awareness: innovative strategies for resource constrained environments

BACKGROUND Breast cancer is characterized by late presentation and significant morbidity and mortality in developing countries. Breast screening aids in early detection of breast cancer. Nurses are uniquely placed to provide advocacy and screening in a resource limited environment. OBJECTIVES To assess the effectiveness of an abbreviated training program in breast cancer awareness on nurses at a tertiary hospital, in a resource constrained environment. METHODS Using a statistical tool, the Solomon Model, 79 nurses were identified and divided into experimental and control groups. An abbreviated training intervention in breast cancer awareness was administered to the experimental group. Pre and post test questionnaires and objective structured clinical examinations were used to determine nurses' knowledge and practice skills before and after the abbreviated training intervention. RESULTS Initial scores of knowledge and practice skills related to clinical breast examination were low: Mean knowledge scores of 18 out of 25 [72%] and mean practice scores of 12.5 out of 30 [41.6%]. Significant improvement was observed following the abbreviated training intervention in both knowledge and practice skills. Knowledge scores of 22 out of 25 [88%, p = < 0.001] and practice scores of 26 out of 30 [86.6%, p=0.003]. Trained nurses were able to improve their knowledge of breast cancer from fair to good knowledge. CONCLUSION There is need to increase breast awareness, both in terms of knowledge and practice skills, in nurses as a means of improving awareness among the general population and early detection of breast cancer. An abbreviated training in breast cancer awareness can improve these skills in nurses.