ASPO Abstracts
Blended (face-to-face plus web-based learning) program on smoking cessation for cancer care providers in Latin America
Category: Global Cancer Research
Conference Year: 2019
Abstract Body:
Purpose: To develop and test the feasibility of a blended program that prepares Spanish- and Portuguese-speaking cancer care professionals (CCPs) to safely and effectively provide brief smoking cessation counseling to their cancer patients and survivors.Methods: A convenient sample of sixty CCPs from two major cancer centers in Colombia (n=30) and Peru (n=30) were invited to participate in a 4-module blended program (face-to-face plus web-based online learning) on smoking cessation (April to October 2018). Demographic data was collected and pre- and posttests evaluations were conducted. Data analysis comparing knowledge, attitudes, and practices on tobacco use and cessation before and after the blended program used X2 and t-tests when appropriate.Results: Twenty nine and 24 CCPs completed the training in Colombia and Peru, (retention rate: 96.6% and 80.0%, respectively). Overall, the pre-posttest evaluation of the eLearning intervention indicated that both cohorts improved their knowledge, attitude, and practices toward tobacco use and cessation. Posttraining, Colombian and Peruvian CCPs reported higher scores for having adequate training in tobacco cessation interventions (p<0.001). Statistical significant differences were reported by Colombian CCPs in all the 6 items of the practice domain. Peruvian CCPs reported statistical significant improvements in only 2 items of this domain: asking cancer patients if they smoke and treating/referring them for smoking cessation. Three main barriers for providing smoking cessation services reported by Colombian and Peruvian CCPs were: lack of training, lack of time, and lack of available resources or referrals. Conclusions: Our blended program in smoking cessation specifically tailored to CCPs was both effective and well received by learners. The implementation of this curriculum appears to have had sustained beneficial effects on oncology environment beyond the simple acquisition of nicotine addiction knowledge. Cancer centers in Latin America ought to embrace smoking cessation practices so as to provide more comprehensive services to cancer patients. Although preliminary, these results provide justification for continued development and evaluation of this blended program in other Latin American cancer centers.
Keywords: smoking cessationtrainingcancer care providersLatin America