Expanding APHON's Pediatric Chemotherapy/Biotherapy Provider and Instructor Program to Spanish-Speaking Countries:...

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Oncology Nursing Education
• Global Health Initiatives
• Chemotherapy and Biotherapy Administration

Background:

• Need for standardized pediatric chemotherapy/biotherapy education in Latin American and Caribbean (LAC) countries.
• Cultural adaptation and translation of the Association of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology Nurses (APHON) programs into Spanish.
• Pilot implementation and evaluation of the adapted APHON Provider and Instructor programs.

Purpose of the Study:

• To culturally adapt, translate, and pilot the APHON Pediatric Chemotherapy/Biotherapy Provider and Instructor programs in Spanish for LAC countries.
• To evaluate the effectiveness and appropriateness of the adapted programs using a Context, Input, Process, Product model.
• To identify predictors of success and strategies for improvement in the delivery of chemotherapy/biotherapy education.

Main Methods:

• Cultural adaptation and Spanish translation of APHON Pediatric Chemotherapy/Biotherapy Provider and Instructor programs.
• Piloting the Spanish Provider program four times and the Instructor program twice with nurses across LAC and Spain.
• Statistical analysis to determine differences in pass rates, predictors of success, and course appropriateness.

Main Results:

• Data analyzed from 108 nurses in three pilots of the Spanish APHON Provider program.
• Significant predictors of higher pass rates included being a frontline pediatric oncology nurse, dedicated unit assignment (inpatient/outpatient), and graduation from a 5-year nursing program.
• The adapted Spanish program was deemed appropriate for the educational and practice levels of nurses in LAC countries.

Conclusions:

• The Spanish APHON Pediatric Chemotherapy/Biotherapy program is suitable for nurses in LAC countries.
• The program enhances access to standardized, comprehensive chemotherapy/biotherapy education for pediatric oncology nurses in the region.
• The APHON Spanish language instructor network facilitates the expansion of this vital education.