Abstract 16: Building Capacity on Cancer Prevention of Healthcare Professionals in Latin America and the Caribbean as Trusted Agents to Increase Populations’ Health Literacy: An Online Competency-Based Microlearning Program
Authors: Feliu Ariadna , Finck Carolyn , Botello Arlette Bahena , Lemos Mariantonia , Espina Carolina 
Published: June 2023

Purpose: Every year 1.5 million new cancer cases are diagnosed in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC). Of these cancers, about 40% could be prevented by avoiding or reducing exposure to modifiable risk factors and unhealthy behaviours. Health literacy has been identified as a main barrier for cancer prevention and control. Healthcare professionals may play a key role in cancer prevention as the first entry point of the public in the health system. We aim to improve health literacy and awareness of cancer prevention in the public in LAC through building capacity and competencies of healthcare professionals to adopt cancer prevention actions.

Methods: We developed an online competency-based self-paced microlearning program for primary healthcare professionals based on the cancer prevention actions recommended in the 1st edition of the Latin American and the Caribbean Code Against Cancer (soon to be launched). The competences addressed in the curriculum are knowledge, communication skills, problem-solving and applying knowledge to real-world situations. We designed a comprehensive evaluation based on the Miller’s Pyramid with a pre-post design to assess the acquisition and use of these competences. Data will be collected in three time-points: a) immediately prior to commencing the training program, to assess baseline knowledge and skills; b) immediately after completion, to determine acquired competences (knows, knows how, and shows how); and c) at 3-6 months follow-up, to assess performance in daily practice (does).

Results: The microlearning program will be freely available to all LAC healthcare professionals. During the study period, students wishing to receive a certificate will have to provide their informed consent to participate in the study and complete the necessary questionnaires. Our expected outcomes are: a) short-term, increased healthcare professionals’ competencies to apply cancer prevention in their clinical practice; and b) long-term, enhanced cancer literacy and awareness of preventive measures in the public to reduce cancer risk in LAC.

Conclusion: Primary healthcare professionals may be key vectors to increase public awareness and literacy on cancer prevention; however, competency-based trainings are needed to offer the public truthful and actionable advice, answer questions and disseminate personalised preventive messages.

Citation Format: Ariadna Feliu, Carolyn Finck, Arlette Bahena Botello, Mariantonia Lemos, Carolina Espina. Building Capacity on Cancer Prevention of Healthcare Professionals in Latin America and the Caribbean as Trusted Agents to Increase Populations’ Health Literacy: An Online Competency-Based Microlearning Program [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 11th Annual Symposium on Global Cancer Research; Closing the Research-to-Implementation Gap; 2023 Apr 4-6. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2023;32(6_Suppl):Abstract nr 16.