Affirming Care for Sexual and Gender Minority Prostate Cancer Survivors: Results from an Online Training.

Sexual and gender minority people have unique, unaddressed healthcare needs following prostate cancer. The research team along with a group of established subject matter experts developed a training and companion materials for healthcare professionals to address this need. Post-assessment evaluation was reported in frequencies and percentages by combining results from learners who attended an original, live web-based training and learners who completed the same training on-demand via a Learning Management System. Learners from both the live and archived training reported that the training increased their knowledge to effectively work with sexual and gender minority prostate cancer survivors. Learners also reported gaining new resources and strategies they could apply to their work. Results indicate the training fills an educational gap for healthcare professionals and supports the need for additional training of healthcare professionals focused on the healthcare needs of SGM cancer survivors.

Initial Outcomes of an Online Continuing Education Series Focused on Post-treatment Cancer Survivorship Care.

There is a growing number of post-treatment cancer survivors in the USA. Cancer survivors can have a variety of care needs and health care professionals must be prepared to meet these needs. The American Cancer Society (ACS) and the George Washington University (GW) Cancer Center developed The Cancer Survivorship E-Learning Series for Primary Care Providers (E-Learning Series) to address the need for cancer survivorship training and education among health care professionals with a focus on primary care. The GW Cancer Center analyzed evaluation data from 1341 learners who voluntarily completed a module pre- and post-assessment between April 15, 2013, and December 31, 2017, to assess differences in self-rated confidence, on a five-point Likert scale, to meet learning objectives. Descriptive statistics characterize the sample and paired samples t tests were used to assess any statistically significant differences from pre to post (p < 0.05). Most learners were nurses (75.19%) and a majority of learners worked in oncology (74.68%) followed by primary care (11.60%). At pre-assessment, the module with the lowest mean self-confidence rating was 3.16 (SD = 0.81) and the highest was 3.60 (SD = 0.73). At post-assessment, module means in self-confidence rating ranged from 4.08 (SD = 0.46) to 4.26 (SD = 0.56). All differences were statistically significant (p < 0.0001). Results highlight gaps in confidence among health care professionals regarding cancer survivorship care and the need for continuing education. There is also a need for additional uptake of the E-Learning Series among primary care providers. Results suggest that the E-Learning Series is an effective educational tool that increases learners' confidence in providing cancer survivorship care.

Addressing the Care of Cancer Survivors: Evaluation of an Online Training for Interprofessional Learners.

There is a growing cancer survivor population in the United States in need of diverse, multidisciplinary healthcare providers competent in addressing their complex healthcare needs. The National Cancer Survivorship Resource Center, a collaboration of the American Cancer Society, The George Washington University Cancer Center, and the CDC launched the Cancer Survivorship E-Learning Series for Primary Care Providers (E-Learning Series) in 2013 to address interprofessional provider learning needs on cancer survivorship. Evaluation of the E-Learning Series showed increased self-reported confidence in learning objectives for every module for primary care and oncology learners. The average change in confidence for primary care providers ranged from 0.61 (SD = 0.77) to 1.10 (SD = 0.90) and for oncology providers from 0.63 (SD = 0.62) to 0.90 (SD = 0.74). Primary care providers had statistically significant differences in confidence improvements compared with oncology providers in modules 1, 2, and 9. Over half of primary care providers (52.3%) reported that they needed more information to implement skills and strategies in practice. Overall, the evaluation showed efficacy of the E-Learning Series in improving both primary care and oncology providers' confidence in cancer survivorship care and highlighted the need for additional education and training in this area.

Development of a Training to Address Needs of Sexual and Gender Minority Prostate Cancer Survivors: Results of Formative Research.

Background: There are limited training opportunities for healthcare professionals focused on the supportive care needs of sexual and gender minority (SGM) patients. SGM prostate cancer survivors have unique physical, psychosocial, and sexual needs that often go unaddressed due to lack of provider understanding of those needs. Methods: To inform the development of a training and companion materials for healthcare professionals to fill this gap, the authors conducted formative research to assess the needs of target learners and SGM patients. Formative research included a survey and focus group of oncology social workers, and interviews with SGM prostate cancer survivors. Results: Survey respondents indicated SGM patients deserved the same quality care as heterosexual, cisgender patients; however, one-third indicated they were not well informed regarding health needs of SGM people. Focus group themes included differing social support structures for SGM people and the need for healthcare professional training. Patient interviews indicated a need for SGM-specific training of healthcare professionals. Conclusion: There is a need for ongoing education and training among healthcare professionals to meet the needs of SGM prostate cancer survivors.