title: Cancer prevention and early detection: nursing students' knowledge, attitudes, personal practices, and teaching.
abstract: This study evaluated the impact of an educational workshop on nursing students' knowledge, attitudes, and personal practices regarding cancer prevention and early detection (CP&ED), as well as the effect that it had on their teaching of CP&ED recommendations. Four one-day workshops--which included lectures, small group discussions, and practice of early detection skills--were held in three cities in Minnesota. Students from baccalaureate, associate-degree, and practical nursing programs participated (N = 220). Preworkshop, postworkshop, and six-month follow-up surveys were used to evaluate the knowledge, attitudes, and self-practice of the participants, as well as their teaching of clients, family, friends, and peers. Data were analyzed with matched paired t-tests, chi-square, correlation, and analysis of variance. The postworkshop and six-month follow-up surveys showed improvement in the students' knowledge and attitudes; however, the only self-practice behaviors that changed within six months of the workshop were breast/testicular self-examinations. The results also showed that the students felt more confident and subsequently taught more clients, family, friends, and peers about the CP&ED recommendations. These findings indicate that educating students early in their careers may increase the number of people practicing CP&ED recommendations.
authors.affiliation: University of Minnesota, Minneapolis.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Post-White
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Carter
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Anglim
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004507:Education, Nursing, Associate; D004508:Education, Nursing, Baccalaureate; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000451:nursing / Q000517:prevention & control*; D015402:Nursing Education Research; D009743:Nursing, Practical / Q000193:education; D015397:Program Evaluation; D012648:Self Care; D013338:Students, Nursing / Q000523:psychology; D013663:Teaching