A program model for nurses involved with cancer education of black Americans

In the last 30 years, cancer incidence rates for black Americans have increased 27% in contrast to an increase of 12% for white cancer rates. In answer to this obvious need for intervention to lower the incidence and mortality rates, the Oncology Nursing Society held a one-day workshop which focused on the primary prevention of cancer in black Americans. For the 40 workshop openings, 540 black nurses from 40 states responded to a call for applicants. The impact of the workshop was measured by four pre- and post-tests which provided both qualitative and quantitative data and indicated that the experience made a significant impact on the participants. The workshop content focused on the epidemiology of the cancers which are most frequently found in blacks, cultural attitudes toward these cancers, and techniques for early detection. The success of the workshop was due to the active involvement of the participants in the learning process and serves as a model for training minority nurses for active, creative roles which can be instituted in the community to help lower the high cancer incidence rate among black Americans.