Improving Nurses’ Knowledge About Older Adults With Cancer

Purpose/Objectives: To assess nurses’ knowledge, attitudes, and perceptions of caring for older adults and to use that assessment data to develop a training program to improve skills in caring for older adults with cancer.

Design: Survey of oncology nursing staff conducted pre- and posteducation regarding geriatric care.

Setting: City of Hope, a comprehensive cancer center in southern California.

Sample: 422 (baseline) and 375 (postintervention) nursing staff in adult care areas.

Methods: The primary endpoint was the difference between baseline and postintervention knowledge. Secondary endpoints included differences in attitudes and perceptions of caring for older adults in an oncology setting. A two-sample t test was performed to compare the mean results between baseline and follow-up surveys.

Main Research Variables: Knowledge, attitudes, and perceptions of caring for older adults.

Findings: Survey comparisons from baseline to postintervention demonstrated statistically significant increases in nurses’ knowledge of geriatric care after the implementation of an educational program targeted at oncology nurses. Nurses’ attitudes remained the same pre- versus posteducation. A significant change reflecting a better perception was noted in the burden of behavioral problems; however, a worsening was noted in disagreements among staff; disagreements involving staff, patients, and families; and limited access to geriatric services. Both surveys highlighted the need to provide more education for staff about geriatric care issues and to make available more geriatric-specific resources.

Conclusions: Knowledge about caring for older adults is needed for oncology nurses, and a geriatric education program for oncology nurses can result in improved knowledge in a variety of domains. Surveying staff highlighted the positive attitude of nurses toward caring for older adults at the study institution. The use of this survey identified key issues facing older adults and ways to improve care.

Implications for Nursing: Additional knowledge about caring for older adults for oncology nurses and assistive staff is needed to prepare for the increasing population of older adults with cancer. Continuous learning is key to professional development, and more research is needed on how to best continue to integrate knowledge of geriatric concepts into oncology care.