title: Promoting nurses' positive attitudes toward cancer prevention/screening.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  From 1991 to 1994, a special projects grant to teach nurses cancer prevention/screening theory and clinical skills was developed, implemented, and evaluated. Approximately 60 nurses in Colorado rural settings attended five two-day training sessions over a 20-month period. Attitudes, constructive or destructive, regarding specific behaviors lead to intentions to perform those behaviors and have an important impact on cancer-related nursing practice.
  
  
  METHODS
  Two cancer-related attitude scales, Cancer Prevention/Early Detection Attitude Inventory and Fanslow Cancer Attitudes Scale, were administered prior to the first training session, following the final session, and at six-month follow-up. Data reflecting program impact on nursing practice were obtained from follow-up self-assessment of confidence in implementing new knowledge and skills.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Significant differences in pre- and post-training attitude scores and fairly high-level confidence ratings suggest that these nurses will continue to use their cancer prevention and detection skills in practice.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Documentation of practice activities to date has been impressive.
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing, University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, Denver 80262, USA.
authors.forename: S L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Howell
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Nelson-Marten
authors.forename: L U
authors.initials: LU
authors.lastname: Krebs
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Kaszyk
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Wold
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003120:Colorado; D004509:Education, Nursing, Continuing; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000451:nursing*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000451:nursing* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D009859:Oncology Nursing / Q000193:education*