title: Improving clinician confidence and skills: piloting a web-based learning program for clinicians in supportive care screening of cancer patients.
abstract: Lean thinking and quality improvement processes identified a need to develop and implement a short concise web-based program for clinicians to increase their confidence and skills in supportive care screening of cancer patients. An independent pretest-posttest design evaluated the program which consisted of three modules, a self-directed learning quiz, and multimedia. Questionnaires were completed anonymously via SurveyMonkey®. There was an increase in mean scores from pre- to post-program in perceived knowledge (pre M = 1.97 SD = .847; post M = 3.05 SD = .486; 3 months M = 2.72 SD = .575), educational preparedness (pre M = 2.33 SD = .957; post M = 3.45 SD = .510; 3 months M = 3.05 SD = .486), and confidence (pre M = 2.39 SD = .998; post M = 3.32 SD = .646; 3 months M = 3.28 SD = .826), indicating improvement in readiness to implement supportive care screening. The number of participants using the tool increased from 57.57% pre-program to 77.78% 3 months post-program. Overall, participants agreed that screening elicited more patient information (post M = 3.82 SD = 1.006; 3 months M = 3.83 SD = .786) and would assist in addressing patients' supportive care needs (post M = 4.00 SD.926; 3 months M = 3.94 SD = .998). It was unclear whether they had made more appropriate referrals as a result of their participation in the program (post M = 3.29 SD = 1.102; 3 months M = 3.11 SD = .963). The majority of participants agreed that the web-based program provided the required information to implement supportive care screening (post M = 3.83 SD = 1.032; 3 months M = 3.61 SD = .702), and that the quiz helped their learning (post M = 3.68 SD = 1.041; 3 months M = 3.65 SD = .702). This pilot indicates that provision of a short concise web-based program may improve clinicians' confidence and skills to implement supportive care screening with cancer patients. A larger matched-group pretest-posttest study is recommended.
authors.affiliation: School of Nursing and Midwifery, Monash University, Peninsula Campus, PO Box 527, Frankston, VIC, 3199, Australia, jill.beattie@monash.edu.
authors.forename: Jill
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Beattie
authors.forename: Lisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Brady
authors.forename: Tracey
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tobias
mesh_terms: D002983:Clinical Competence; D003194:Computer-Assisted Instruction; D004501:Education, Medical; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006293:Health Promotion / Q000592:standards; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet; D007858:Learning; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D010166:Palliative Care / Q000592:standards*; D010865:Pilot Projects; D058996:Quality Improvement; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires