![[ Visit Client Website ]](images/banner.gif)
Learning Objective 1: Participants will assess how e-learning can be used to provide education to underserved nations.
Learning Objective 2: Participants will identify 2 causes of the cancer epidemic in Africa
The need for oncology nursing education in Africa is growing. Oncology nurses need appropriate knowledge of cancer, symptom management and coping skills to support patients. Oncology curriculum is rarely taught in most African nursing schools. It is difficult for African nurses to access current education resources due challenges with access, funding, and degree requirements. The nursing team at OncoLink, the Internet resource at the University of Pennsylvania, designed an educational initiative in partnership with the Ocean Road Cancer Institute (ORCI) in Dar Es Salaam Tanzania to bridge this gap.
Methods:
The ORCI nurses met with OncoLink to express their need for oncology education. The OncoLink nursing team used existing e-learning tools as educational model to be implemented in an Africa. The modules include specific education on cancer biology, chemotherapy, and radiation. Nurses complete a pretest, posttest and clinical evaluation to receive a certificate.
Results:
This program was completed at ORCI. Twenty nurses constitute the first group piloting this project, with planned expansion to up to 61 nurses. Pretesting was performed prior to starting the modules. Post test surveys were administered after each module and were compared to the original pretest. Satisfaction and efficacy of the project was rated. All nurses passed the course and were recognized for their achievement as a group from hospital administrators and their Minister of Health.
Conclusion:
This presentation will discuss the initial implementation, satisfaction, and next steps to extend to other developing countries where increasing nursing educational level is desired. OncoLink is prepared to continue the course at ORCI with modifications based on data and satisfaction in January of 2013.