Strengthening of oncology nursing education and training in Africa in the year of the nurse and midwife: addressing the challenges to improve cancer control in Africa

Abstract

The Cancer burden in Africa is increasing. Nurses play a pivotal role in health care systems and find themselves in a key position to engage with patients, communities and other health professionals to address disparities in cancer care and work towards achieving cancer control in Africa. The rapidly evolving nature of cancer care requires a highly skilled and specialised oncology nurse to either provide clinical care and/or conduct research to improve evidence-based practice. Although Africa has been slow to respond to the need for trained oncology nurses, much has been done over the past few years. This article aims to provide an update of Oncology nursing education and training in Africa with specific focus on South Africa, Ghana, Nigeria, Kenya, Zambia and Egypt. Mapping oncology nursing education and training in Africa in 2020, the International Year of the Nurse and the Midwife, provides an opportunity to leverage on the essential roles of the oncology nurse and commit to an agenda that will drive and sustain progress to 2030 and beyond.

Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practice of chemotherapy management among nurses at Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital, Ile-Ife, Nigeria

“…In the United States (US) and other high-income countries, oncology nursing is a specialty practice in hospitals where RNs contribute to the care and clinical outcomes of oncology patients. 6 , 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 At Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospital (OAUTH), Ile-Ife, Nigeria, RNs do not receive specialty oncology training. The current practice at OAUTH is that physicians (MDs) prepare and administer chemotherapy.…”

“…Nurses working in these settings are learning their oncology-specific skills on the job, which can lead to life-threatening medication errors and unsafe working conditions for both patients and staff due to a lack of knowledge of proper chemotherapy handling and administration. 6 , 8 , 9 , 10 In another study, nurses admitted incompetence in chemotherapy preparation and administration. 8 The research literature highlights that a competent nursing workforce improves patient outcomes and reduces patient mortality.…”

“… 8 The research literature highlights that a competent nursing workforce improves patient outcomes and reduces patient mortality. 6 , 9 , 10 , 12 Hence, nurses are in a position to lead the cancer-control agenda within healthcare policy restriction, and enhancing education and training for nurses in the area of oncology care would have a positive impact on cancer care in Nigeria. 10 …”

Paediatric oncology nursing education and training programmes: a scoping review protocol

“…The ability to respond to the cancer burden in LMICs has also been affected by the limited number of specialised oncology healthcare professionals, such as nurses 14 15. Nurses form the largest group of healthcare professionals globally and are considered the back bone of the healthcare system in the management of children with cancer 2.…”

“…In most LMICs the undergraduate curriculum for nurses has limited content for oncology nursing, and as such nurses receive little or no paediatric oncology-specific education during pre-service education 19. Unlike HICs and some LMICs, where nurses are given an orientation education programme when newly hired or allocated to paediatric oncology settings, many LMICs, do not have such education and training opportunities 15 19. Nurses learn to deal with complexities of cancer management on the job through experience, intuition and doctors’ instructions 20 21.…”