Innovative Training to Improve Childhood Cancer Knowledge Among Primary Health Care Providers: Evaluating a Blended...

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Oncology
• Global Health
• Health Professions Education

Background:

• Early detection of childhood cancer is crucial for improving outcomes in low- and middle-income countries.
• Training primary health care providers (HCPs) in resource-limited settings presents significant challenges due to time and resource constraints.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the knowledge of primary health care workers regarding childhood cancer following a blended learning program.
• To evaluate the impact of this training on the referral of suspected childhood cancer cases.

Main Methods:

• A prospective study in Bungoma, Kenya, evaluated a blended pediatric oncology training program.
• Knowledge was assessed using a semistructured questionnaire at baseline, immediately post-training, and six months later.
• Referral data from the region were analyzed before and after the training intervention.

Main Results:

• A total of 496 (16%) of 3,040 participants completed the program. Median knowledge scores significantly increased post-training but declined significantly after six months.
• Community health volunteers consistently scored lower than other HCPs across all assessment points.
• Despite 36% of participants reporting suspecting childhood cancer cases, the average annual referrals remained unchanged (14 cases).

Conclusions:

• The blended learning program initially enhanced knowledge but showed a significant decline after six months.
• While digital learning components show potential, low referral rates underscore the need to address systemic barriers to effective patient referral.
• Further strategies are needed to sustain knowledge and improve referral pathways for childhood cancer.