title: Pre- and posttest evaluation of a breast cancer risk assessment program for nurse practitioners.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Numerous studies have shown that healthcare providers, including nurse practitioners (NPs) fail to provide breast cancer risk assessment (BrCRA) in primary care settings. A potential barrier to the use of BrCRA is insufficient knowledge or training of risk assessment. The purpose of this study was to analyze the outcome of a BrCRA program developed to enhance NPs' knowledge of risk assessment and use of empiric risk assessment models.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-five NPs participated in a before-after (pretest-posttest design) study evaluating the effectiveness of a BrCRA education program conducted at a national NP conference. Demographics, pre/post knowledge, and course satisfaction measures were all examined as a part of this pilot study.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Continuing education through the implementation of a BrCRA program significantly increased NPs knowledge in assessing breast cancer risk and the use of empiric risk assessment models.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Many healthcare providers, including NPs, are inadequately prepared to assess a woman's risk for breast cancer. Understanding breast cancer risk assessment is essential if NPs are to provide appropriate counseling, management, and referral strategies needed to reduce a woman's risk for developing the disease. Continuing education provides one means to enhance NP's knowledge of BrCRA.
authors.affiliation: Western University of Health Sciences, College of Graduate Nursing, Pomona, California 91766-1854, USA. qedwards@westernu.edu
authors.forename: Quannetta T
authors.initials: QT
authors.lastname: Edwards
authors.forename: Diane
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Seibert
mesh_terms: D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000451:nursing* / Q000517:prevention & control; D002983:Clinical Competence; D004509:Education, Nursing, Continuing; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D015233:Models, Statistical; D009722:Nurse Practitioners; D011320:Primary Health Care; D016730:Program Development; D015397:Program Evaluation; D018570:Risk Assessment; D013997:Time Factors