Nurses increasingly are asked to advise cancer patients interested in supplementing conventional treatments with complementary and alternative medicine (CAM). The Cancer CAM series of on-line continuing education programs offer nurses convenient and accessible continuing education related to understanding, evaluating and communicating about CAM in their practice. The first module focuses on prostate cancer patients and use of complementary and alternative treatments. The learning package includes text-based on-line instruction with links for optional exploration of topic-related web sites and nursing and patient education tips. Eight printable resources include a book list, patient instructions on finding support groups, summaries of herbs and CAM options for managing prostate cancer symptoms and side effects, and a list of all web sites hyperlinked within the text. Upon completion, a posttest is taken and the nurse is notified by email of her score. These courses can improve nurse’s knowledge, communication skills and self-efficacy regarding communicating about CAM to patients and other health care providers. Pilot test nurses showed a significant increase pre to post (t=4.679, p=.009) in nurses' confidence to teach patients the importance of disclosing CAM use, in integrating a healthy life style change into their treatment plan, selecting a CAM provider, using mind-body techniques to alleviate stress and reduce anxiety, exploring the types and uses of soy products, and in explaining to physicians why prostate cancer patients use CAM and their most common uses of CAM.
See www.nurse-ceus-stat
Learning Objectives: 1. Attendees will understand how online interactive continuing educational can provide review ofresearch information, online and other resources and patient-related information. 2. Attendees will understand the use of a model for presenting CAM-related information to practicing nurses.
Keywords: Nursing Education, Cancer
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: HealthMark Multimedia, LLC
I have a significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.
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