Effectiveness of a genetics self-instructional module for nurses involved in egg donor screening.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the effectiveness of a self-instructional module in increasing nurses' knowledge of genetics.


METHODS
Pretest/posttest study design. Participants completed a pretest questionnaire used to measure baseline knowledge of basic human genetic concepts and risk assessment and collect descriptive data. Participants then reviewed a self-instructional module and completed a posttest questionnaire.


METHODS
Study materials were mailed to 262 registered nurses involved in screening egg donors at 177 reproductive health centers in the United States from July to September 2000.


METHODS
Sixty-five registered nurses working at reproductive health centers. One hundred of 262 eligible nurses completed the pretest (38% return rate) and 65 of these 100 nurses also completed the posttest (65% retention rate).


METHODS
A 22-page self-instructional booklet on genetic risk assessment.


METHODS
Pretest and posttest responses.


RESULTS
There was a significant increase of 20.8% in participants' mean knowledge score on the posttest (M = 89.0%, SD = 8%, range = 67%-100%) as compared with the pretest (M = 69.0%, SD = 12%, range = 42%-92%), based on paired t-test analysis (t = 11.74, SE = 0.426, p < .0001).


CONCLUSIONS
A genetics self-instructional module for registered nurses was effective in increasing knowledge of basic human genetic concepts and risk assessment. More in-depth independent study programs in genetics for nurses are recommended.
Swank
C
C
Institute of Genetic Medicine, The John Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA. cswank@jhmi.edu
Christianson
C A
CA
Prows
C A
CA
West
E B
EB
Warren
N S
NS
D003479:Curriculum / Q000592:standards; D004509:Education, Nursing, Continuing / Q000379:methods*; D004521:Educational Measurement; D005260:Female; D005820:Genetic Testing / Q000451:nursing*; D005826:Genetics, Medical / Q000193:education*; D006801:Humans; D007318:Inservice Training / Q000379:methods*; D015402:Nursing Education Research; D009740:Nursing Staff / Q000193:education*; D018587:Oocyte Donation / Q000451:nursing*; D011380:Programmed Instructions as Topic / Q000592:standards*; D018570:Risk Assessment; D014481:United States