This paper reports on part of a large study to identify competencies of oncology nurses in Malaysia. It focuses on oncology nurses' communications-related competency. As an important cancer care team member, oncology nurses need to communicate effectively with cancer patients. Literature shows that poor communication can make patients feel anxious, uncertain and generally not satisfied with their nurses' care. This paper deliberates on the importance of effective communication by oncology nurses in the context of a public hospital. Four focus group discussions were used in this study with 17 oncology/cancer care nurses from Malaysian public hospitals. The main inclusion criterion was that the nurses had to have undergone a post-basic course in oncology, or have work experience as a cancer care nurse. The findings indicated that nurses do communicate with their patients, patients' families and doctors to provide information about the disease, cancer treatment, disease recurrence and side effects. Nurses should have good communication skills in order to build relationships as well as to provide quality services to their patients. The paper concludes by recommending how oncology nursing competencies can be improved.
Oncology nurses are an essential component of cancer care teams. Nurses play a vital role in ensuring that cancer patients comply with their cancer treatment. In the cancer care nursing context, competency is not merely being skilled, but also implies the characteristic of being able to perform effectively. In addition to the need for competence, nursing is a discipline rich in values including human dignity, caring, humanity, and respect for personal privacy. Research from a variety of disciplines indicates that values often influence human behaviour in professional and work settings. It is often believed, therefore, that nurse' values and work experience influence and contribute to their work performance. Few studies have attempted to examine these relationships, particularly in the context of cancer care nursing. The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between personal values, work experience and competency among cancer care nurses in Malaysia. Quantitative surveys were used to collect the data. A total of 845 cancer care nurses from 38 public hospitals in Peninsular Malaysia participated in the study. Descriptive statistics and Pearson Product-Moment Correlations were used to analyse the data. The findings revealed positive and significant relationships between personal values and competency (r = 0.59, p < 0.01) and work experience and competency (r = 0.11, p < 0.047). The findings support the assertion that Malaysian nurses' values and work experience are related to performance-related competency.
Background: Cancer awareness among the public should be enhanced in line with the increased cancer occurrence. Such program is still limited at local community in Malaysia. Thus, a registered cancer society KanWork has taken an initiative to organize awareness program in collaboration with the local community. The community based approach was guided by The Interactive Model of Program Planning (Caffarella & Daffron, 2013). The program objective was to promote healthy lifestyle and encourage early detection. For further improvement, there is a need to evaluate the program's effectiveness and strategy. Aim: 1. To determine the relationship between program strategy and cancer awareness program effectiveness. 2. To determine predictors that contribute to cancer awareness program effectiveness. Methods: A customized instrument to measure a program effectiveness constructs guided by The Interactive Model of Program Planning was developed. The questionnaire was administered to 628 participants of five program carried out by KanWork in collaboration with and at five local communities in Selangor, Malaysia between 2015 and 2017. 321 (51%) returned the questionnaire. Descriptive statistics, Pearson product-moment correlations and multiple linear regression were used to analyze the data. Results: Majority (91%) participants of the community cancer awareness program was women and public (90%). Majority (66%) learned about program from the community. The findings showed positive and moderate relationships between short lecture and program effectiveness (r = .625, P = 0.00), sharing session with survivor (r = .577, P = 0.00), awareness exhibition (r = .376, P = 0.00), facilities program (r = .246, P = 0.00), and health screening (r = .192, P = 0.00). Short lecture (β = .773; P < .000) showed a major contribution to cancer awareness program effectiveness. There were five factors that contributed namely; short lecture, sharing session with survivor, awareness exhibitions, health screening, and appropriate facilities. The short lecture on general cancer was done by experienced, proficient oncologist. Participants were engaged in a two-way communication session. Transfer of learning was facilitated during the sharing session (panel discussion) with cancer survivors of different cancer journeys. Participants were convinced hearing from the “horses´ mouth”. The learning was further reinforced with related culturally appropriate cancer education material (poster, books and brochures) on display at the awareness exhibition. To promote participants to practice early detection, they were also given opportunities to do breast clinical examination, Papanicolaou test and health screening at the venue. The program's venue with appropriate facilities further encouraged the community to be engaged in the program. Conclusion: Appropriate program strategy contributes toward effective cancer awareness program. The findings support some elements of the Interactive Model of Program Planning.
Background: Cancer patient needs information to make informed decision. A registered cancer society in Malaysia, KanWork supports those affected by cancer by providing such information through regular structured education program. The programs were designed based on the learners needs addressing issues related to medical, clinical, psychological, spiritual, motivational, and healthy lifestyle. The programs were carried out in collaboration with cancer hospitals at their venues. Each program lasted 3 hours. The program was guided by adult learning principles. For accountability and further improvement, there is a need to evaluate the effectiveness of the program. This paper reports the programs and their effectiveness from the participants' perspective. Aim: To determine the relationship between program management (learning experience provided to participants, and facilities), and the cancer education program effectiveness. To determine predictors that contribute toward the program effectiveness. Methods: A customized instrument to measure the education program effectiveness related constructs was developed guided by literature. The questionnaire was administered to 868 participants of 8 cancer education programs carried out between 2015 and 2017. 481 (55%) returned the questionnaire. Descriptive statistics, Pearson product-moment correlations and multiple linear regression were used to analyze the data. Results: Majority (91%) who attended the education program were women and cancer patient/survivor (50%). There is positive relationship between learning experience (r=0.895, P = 0.00), program facilities (r=0.435, P = 0.00), and program effectiveness. Learning experience (β = .916; P < .000) showed a predictor and major contribution to cancer education program effectiveness. An appropriate learning experience to learner is critical to ensure the education program effectiveness. Adult learners joined the program to solve their problematic situation in their cancer journey. An appropriate learning experience is one that contributes to meeting their needs, they can follow (e.g., conducted in local language) (Bahasa Malaysia) and terms they can comprehend, and with two way communication channel that gives them chance to be engaged. The experienced facilitators, expert in their respective fields were able to provide meaningful learning experience to participants. Conclusion: Appropriate learning experiences and program facilities contributes toward effective cancer education program in a Malaysian context. The findings strengthen adult learning constructs that guide such program. Further research will give insight to education program in different contexts.
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