Genomes for Nurses: Understanding and Overcoming Barriers to Nurses Utilizing Genomics

Area of Science:

• Genomic medicine
• Pediatric oncology nursing

Background:

• Genomic testing is crucial in pediatric oncology for diagnosis, prognosis, and targeted therapies.
• Pediatric oncology nurses often lack foundational genomics knowledge and confidence in clinical application.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore barriers to genomics literacy among pediatric oncology nurses, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants.
• To identify educational needs and preferences for genomics education in pediatric cancer care.

Main Methods:

• An electronic survey assessed knowledge, comfort levels, and educational preferences.
• Five focus groups provided in-depth qualitative data on barriers and needs.
• Data analysis involved ranking strategies and transcription of focus group discussions.

Main Results:

• More than 50% of respondents reported discomfort or unpreparedness in addressing patient/family genomics questions.
• This lack of confidence was identified as the primary barrier to utilizing genomic information in practice.
• Significant need for additional genomics education was indicated by the survey and focus groups.

Conclusions:

• Pediatric oncology nurses require enhanced genomics education to effectively integrate genomic testing into patient care.
• Findings will inform the development of a targeted pediatric cancer genomics curriculum for nursing professionals.
• Improving genomics literacy is essential for empowering nurses in the era of precision oncology.