title: An innovation in curriculum content and delivery of cancer education within undergraduate nurse training in the UK. What impact does this have on the knowledge, attitudes and confidence in delivering cancer care?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This was an evaluation of an innovation in curriculum content and delivery within undergraduate nursing education in the UK. Its purpose was to investigate the effect on knowledge, attitudes and confidence in delivering cancer care.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study design was a pre-test post-test survey design with a comparison group. Participants were two cohorts of undergraduate nursing students (n(intervention) = 84, n(comparison) = 91). The intervention cohort were exposed to a new 3.5 day programme of cancer education, coproduced with patients, carers and health professionals, which focused on cancer as a life changing long-term condition. The comparison cohort had been exposed to a 2 day programme produced by a lecturer.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Following exposure to the new model for the delivery of undergraduate nurse cancer education, the intervention cohort demonstrated good overall knowledge of the impact of cancer, more positive attitudes towards cancer treatment and more confidence in their ability to deliver cancer care. Attitudes were more positive and confidence in ability to support cancer patients at all stages of the cancer journey were greater than in the comparison group. Insights gained into the cancer patient and carer perspectives were highly valued.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study has found that a new model for the delivery of cancer education focusing on survivorship and delivered in partnership with patients, carers and clinicians, may improve knowledge, attitudes and confidence in the delivery of cancer care. Further work is now needed, using a more robust experimental design, to investigate the generalisability of the results to other education programs.
authors.affiliation: School of Healthcare Sciences, College of Biomedical and Life Sciences, Cardiff University, Eastgate House, 40-43 Newport Road, Cardiff University, Cardiff, Wales, CF24 0AB, UK.
authors.forename: Deborah
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Edwards
authors.affiliation: School of Healthcare Sciences, College of Biomedical and Life Sciences, Cardiff University, Eastgate House, 40-43 Newport Road, Cardiff University, Cardiff, Wales, CF24 0AB, UK.
authors.forename: Sally
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Anstey
authors.affiliation: School of Healthcare Sciences, College of Biomedical and Life Sciences, Cardiff University, Eastgate House, 40-43 Newport Road, Cardiff University, Cardiff, Wales, CF24 0AB, UK.
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kelly
authors.affiliation: School of Healthcare Sciences, College of Biomedical and Life Sciences, Cardiff University, Eastgate House, 40-43 Newport Road, Cardiff University, Cardiff, Wales, CF24 0AB, UK. Electronic address: HopkinsonJB@cardiff.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Jane
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hopkinson
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002983:Clinical Competence; D003479:Curriculum; D004508:Education, Nursing, Baccalaureate; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009859:Oncology Nursing / Q000193:education*; D012649:Self Concept; D006113:United Kingdom; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Attitudes; Cancer; Carer; Confidence; Coproduction; Education; Knowledge; Nursing; Patient; Research