Training that sticks: sustaining knowledge and communication excellence in geriatric oncology through a...

Area of Science:

• Geriatric Oncology
• Healthcare Workforce Education
• Cancer Care for Older Adults

Background:

• The population of older adults with cancer is growing, presenting complex care needs.
• The current healthcare workforce lacks adequate training to address the unique challenges of geriatric oncology.
• A gap exists in specialized education for healthcare providers caring for this demographic.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the long-term impact of the Geriatric Oncology: Cognition and Communication (Geri Onc CC) program.
• To assess the program's effectiveness in improving healthcare providers' knowledge, attitudes, and self-efficacy.
• To determine the extent of skill utilization and practice changes following the Geri Onc CC training.

Main Methods:

• Recruited 282 multidisciplinary healthcare providers (HCPs) internationally.
• Delivered virtual and in-person training on geriatric syndromes and communication strategies for older adults with cancer.
• Assessed knowledge, attitudes, and self-efficacy pre- and post-training, with 6- and 12-month follow-ups; skill utilization and implementation evaluated at follow-ups.

Main Results:

• Sustained improvements in knowledge and self-efficacy were observed at 6 and 12 months post-training (p<.01).
• Over 70% of HCPs reported increased use of learned skills in their practice.
• A majority of participants implemented changes in clinical care, teaching, or research.

Conclusions:

• The Geri Onc CC program effectively enhances HCPs' knowledge and self-efficacy in geriatric oncology.
• The program demonstrates sustained positive impacts on skill utilization and clinical practice changes.
• Geri Onc CC addresses a critical need for specialized education in the geriatric oncology workforce.