Nurse confidence in gynaecological oncology practice and the evaluation of a professional development module

Abstract

Background: A tertiary-based education program on gynaecological oncology was attended by 62 registered nurses (RN).

Aims: The program aimed to update nurses' knowledge, improve skills and ability to manage common situations and to assess program efficacy.

Design: Evaluation framework with specifically designed pre-post questionnaire about program content and nurse confidence.

Method: RN interested in gynaecological oncology were invited to attend. Nurses rated their confidence about gynaecological oncology skills one week prior to the program, immediately post-course, 3 months post and 12 months post. Speaker presentations were evaluated immediately post-course.

Results: Participants indicated improved confidence immediately after participating in the course (z = -6.515, p < .001); whilst confidence subsequently declined and stabilised up to 12 months post-course, it still remained significantly higher than before the course: 3 months post- (z = -5.284, p < .001) and 12 months post- (z = -4.155, p < .001).

Conclusions: Results support the value of continuing professional education for improving nurse confidence in the gynaecological oncology setting.

Keywords: education (continuing); education (professional); endometrial neoplasms; nurses; oncology nursing; ovarian neoplasms; program evaluation; uterine neoplasms; vulvar neoplasms.