Mentoring nurses in familial cancer risk assessment and counseling: lessons learned from a formative evaluation.
BACKGROUND
As familial cancer genetic services moves into community practice increased numbers of trained health professionals are needed to counsel individuals seeking cancer risk information. Nurses have been targeted to provide cancer risk assessment and counseling. To help prepare nurses for this role, a 5-day training in familial cancer risk assessment and counseling followed by a long-distance mentorship to support continued skill development in the work environment was conducted by Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, PA.


METHODS
Four cohorts (N = 41) have completed the training and were randomized to either an immediate or delayed mentorship. A formative evaluation assessed the nurse's ability to consult with other genetic health professionals and build self-efficacy in counseling skills via responses to questionnaire. A post-mentorship interview evaluated the usefulness, timing and length of the mentorship.


RESULTS
For both groups, there was a statistically significant improvement in self-efficacy for all skills from baseline to 6 months and an increased number of nurses consulting with genetic health professionals. All the nurses reported the value of the mentorship and those with less cancer risk counseling experience prior to the training needed support and resources for further skill and program development. Lessons learned from this formative evaluation are provided.
Masny
Agnes
A
Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, PA 19111, USA. agnes.masny@fccc.edu
Ropka
Mary E
ME
Peterson
Candace
C
Fetzer
Dominique
D
Daly
Mary B
MB
D002173:Cancer Care Facilities; D003479:Curriculum; D004509:Education, Nursing, Continuing; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005817:Genetic Counseling; D005820:Genetic Testing; D005826:Genetics, Medical / Q000193:education*; D006801:Humans; D007318:Inservice Training; D008611:Mentors; D017145:Models, Educational; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000451:nursing*; D015143:Philadelphia; D015397:Program Evaluation; D018570:Risk Assessment