The Effectiveness of "Multi-Immunotherapy Special Training Courses Through Digital Media and Workshop" Intervention for Oncology Nurses: Exploration of Educational Needs, Curriculum Planning, Implementation and Evaluation
Condition: Education; Oncology; Immune
MeSH terms: Neoplasms
Study type: Interventional

Summary: 
      This study is a 2-year qualitative and quantitative mixed method research project and
      consists of two phases.The study will provide useful clinical data to help us better
      understand educational needs of immunotherapy for oncology nurses. This ISTC model will lead
      to further validation of an oncology care training course model designed to better prepare
      and support cancer patients and their families to existing and new anti-cancer therapies.
    

Detailed description: 
      Background: More and more cancer patients are receiving immunotherapy. However, patients and
      their families are overwhelmingly not fully aware of the side effects of immunotherapy or the
      related management involved while simultaneously experiencing both financial and spiritual
      burden. Thus, educating the needs of immunotherapy and the development and planning of
      immunotherapy-related training courses for oncology nurses are necessary.

      Purpose: (1) To explore the educational needs for immunotherapy in oncology nurses. (2) To
      develop and evaluate the effectiveness of "Multi-Immunotherapy Special Training Courses
      through Digital Media and Workshop" intervention" (short for Immunotherapy Special Training
      Course (ISTC)" on immunotherapy related care indicators and the feasibility of the ISTC.

      Method: This study is a 2-year qualitative and quantitative mixed method research project and
      consists of two phases: (1) The qualitative method will be conducted using phenomenological
      methods and snowball sampling. In-depth interviews and observations by one researcher will be
      adopted in this study. The sample size is determined as the number of samples collected until
      saturated data analysis is achieved. (2) The quantitative method will be conducted as a
      quasi-experimental research with a two group pretest-posttest. For the experimental group,
      snowball sampling will be used to recruit participants who are recommended by a cooperative
      teaching hospital in the North, Central, South and East Districts of Taiwan to participate in
      the ISTC training. The duration is to last 16 weeks and includes 8 hours of digital media
      training and 2 days of workshop training. For the control group, convenient sampling will be
      used to recruit participants attending the "Advanced Oncology Nurse Training Course (AONTC)
      (during 4 weeks, 8 days)." which will be held by the Taiwan Oncology Nursing Society. Each
      group will be followed for 3 to 4 months and their outcomes will be assessed at 3 time
      points: baseline (pre-training course), and 8, 12 weeks after the training course, T0-T2,
      respectively. Outcomes will be evaluated based on immunotherapy knowledge, self-efficacy of
      caring responsible for patients undergoing immunotherapy, critical thinking ability, and
      ability of communication. Additionally, in the experimental group, outcomes will also be
      evaluated by mini-clinical evaluation exercise, mini-CEX at T2 and learning passport at 16
      weeks after training course (T3). Estimated subject number would be 60 for each group.
      Results would be analyzed mainly by GEE. After obtaining approval from the institutional
      review board of a medical center in northern Taiwan and getting the required consent, this
      study will commence.

      Predicted results: The study will provide useful clinical data to help us better understand
      educational needs of immunotherapy for oncology nurses. This ISTC model will lead to further
      validation of an oncology care training course model designed to better prepare and support
      cancer patients and their families to existing and new anti-cancer therapies.
    

Intervention name(s): Immunotherapy Special Training Course (ISTC); Advanced Oncology Nurse Training Course (AONTC)
Intervention type(s): Other; Other
Intervention description(s): 16 weeks and includes 8 hours of digital media training and 2 days of workshop training.; 4 weeks and includes 8 days of Advanced Oncology Nurse Training Course
Intervention MeSH terms: Immunomodulating Agents
Allocation: Non-Randomized
Intervention model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: None (Open Label)
Primary purpose: Other
Keywords: cancer; immunotherapy; oncology nurse; education need; training course