title: Nurse confidence in gynaecological oncology practice and the evaluation of a professional development module.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  A tertiary-based education program on gynaecological oncology was attended by 62 registered nurses (RN).
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The program aimed to update nurses' knowledge, improve skills and ability to manage common situations and to assess program efficacy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Evaluation framework with specifically designed pre-post questionnaire about program content and nurse confidence.
  
  
  METHODS
  RN interested in gynaecological oncology were invited to attend. Nurses rated their confidence about gynaecological oncology skills one week prior to the program, immediately post-course, 3 months post and 12 months post. Speaker presentations were evaluated immediately post-course.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Participants indicated improved confidence immediately after participating in the course (z = -6.515, p < .001); whilst confidence subsequently declined and stabilised up to 12 months post-course, it still remained significantly higher than before the course: 3 months post- (z = -5.284, p < .001) and 12 months post- (z = -4.155, p < .001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Results support the value of continuing professional education for improving nurse confidence in the gynaecological oncology setting.
authors.affiliation: a The Chris O'Brien Lifehouse , Sydney , NSW , Australia.|b Cancer Nursing Research Unit , Sydney Nursing School, The University of Sydney , Sydney , NSW , Australia.
authors.forename: Shannon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Philp
authors.affiliation: b Cancer Nursing Research Unit , Sydney Nursing School, The University of Sydney , Sydney , NSW , Australia.
authors.forename: Catherine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Barnett
authors.affiliation: b Cancer Nursing Research Unit , Sydney Nursing School, The University of Sydney , Sydney , NSW , Australia.
authors.forename: Natalie
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: D'Abrew
authors.affiliation: b Cancer Nursing Research Unit , Sydney Nursing School, The University of Sydney , Sydney , NSW , Australia.|c Sydney Local Health District , Camperdown , NSW , Australia.|d Midwifery and Postgraduate Medicine , School of Nursing, Edith Cowan University , Joondalup , WA , Australia.
authors.forename: Kate
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: White
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002983:Clinical Competence; D003479:Curriculum; D004509:Education, Nursing, Continuing / Q000458:organization & administration*; D005260:Female; D005833:Genital Neoplasms, Female / Q000451:nursing*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009741:Nursing Staff, Hospital / Q000193:education* / Q000523:psychology*; D009859:Oncology Nursing / Q000193:education*; D015397:Program Evaluation
keywords: education (continuing); education (professional); endometrial neoplasms; nurses; oncology nursing; ovarian neoplasms; program evaluation; uterine neoplasms; vulvar neoplasms