Diffusion of Innovation: Knowledge and Attitudes of Oncology Nurses Regarding Pharmacogenomic Testing

There are currently over 20 different pharmacogenomic tests being used in the oncology field. However, only a few studies have been conducted regarding knowledge and attitudes towards pharmacogenomic testing among clinicians, in particular nursing. This descriptive study (guided by Rogers' Diffusion of Innovation Theory) utilizing descriptive statistics and variable selection methods was conducted with 368 oncology nurses in the state of North Carolina to identify and test key elements of Rogers' Diffusion of Innovation theory that play a role in the adoption of pharmacogenomic testing into the oncology practice by assessing oncology nurses knowledge, attitudes, and support for use of pharmacogenomic testing. Oncology nurses who participated in this study had a low perception of their knowledge of both genomics and pharmacogenomic testing based on their perceived knowledge. Additionally, attitudes towards pharmacogenomic testing were overall positive. Attitudes toward pharmacogenomic testing specifically related to oncology had a more favorable response than attitudes towards pharmacogenomic testing in general. Furthermore, the study revealed that oncology nurses in this study utilize pharmacogenomic testing information routinely in their nursing care.Doctor of Philosoph

Perceived Genetic Knowledge of Pre-licensure Nursing Students

The purpose of this study was to assess the knowledge base of nursing students regarding the topic of genetics and how this may change as a student progresses through the nursing program. A 70 item multiple-choice and dichotomous survey was given to freshman, sophomore, junior, and senior nursing students at a university school of nursing in the eastern part of the United States. Two hundred and seventy five pre-licensure nursing students, 255 females and 18 males, comprised the sample. A one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was performed and the results concluded that there was a significant difference among the freshman, sophomore, juniors, and seniors in regards to having at least a 'minimal' knowledge or better of medical genetic terminology and conditions. Seniors reported a higher number of terms which they had at least a 'minimal' knowledge level or better than freshman or sophomores. Also the juniors reported a higher number of terms which they had at least a 'minimal' knowledge level or better than sophomore

Distribution of health literacy strengths and weaknesses across socio-demographic groups: a cross-sectional survey using the Health Literacy Questionnaire (HLQ)

BACKGROUND: Recent advances in the measurement of health literacy allow description of a broad range of personal and social dimensions of the concept. Identifying differences in patterns of health literacy between population sub-groups will increase understanding of how health literacy contributes to health inequities and inform intervention development. The aim of this study was to use a multi-dimensional measurement tool to describe the health literacy of adults in urban and rural Victoria, Australia. METHODS: Data were collected from clients (n = 813) of 8 health and community care organisations, using the Health Literacy Questionnaire (HLQ). Demographic and health service data were also collected. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics. Effect sizes (ES) for standardised differences in means were used to describe the magnitude of difference between demographic sub-groups. RESULTS: Mean age of respondents was 72.1 (range 19-99) years. Females comprised 63% of the sample, 48% had not completed secondary education, and 96% reported at least one existing health condition. Small to large ES were seen for mean differences in HLQ scales between most demographic groups. Compared with participants who spoke English at home, those not speaking English at home had much lower scores for most HLQ scales including the scales 'Understanding health information well enough to know what to do' (ES -1.09 [95% confidence interval (CI) -1.33 to -0.84]), 'Ability to actively engage with healthcare providers' (ES -1.00 [95% CI -1.24, -0.75]), and 'Navigating the healthcare system' (ES -0.72 [95% CI -0.97, -0.48]). Similar patterns and ES were seen for participants born overseas compared with those born in Australia. Smaller ES were seen for sex, age group, private health insurance status, number of chronic conditions, and living alone. CONCLUSIONS: This study has revealed some large health literacy differences across nine domains of health literacy in adults using health services in Victoria. These findings provide insights into the relationship between health literacy and socioeconomic position in vulnerable groups and, given the focus of the HLQ, provide guidance for the development of equitable interventions

Barriers to breast cancer screening among diverse cultural groups in Melbourne, Australia

This study explored the association between health literacy, barriers to breast cancer screening, and breast screening participation for women from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds. English-, Arabic- and Italian-speaking women (n = 317) between the ages of 50 to 74 in North West Melbourne, Australia were recruited to complete a survey exploring health literacy, barriers to breast cancer screening, and self-reported screening participation. A total of 219 women (69%) reported having a breast screen within the past two years. Results revealed that health literacy was not associated with screening participation. Instead, emotional barriers were a significant factor in the self-reported uptake of screening. Three health literacy domains were related to lower emotional breast screening barriers, feeling understood and supported by healthcare providers, social support for health and understanding health information well enough to know what to do. Compared with English- and Italian-speaking women, Arabic-speaking women reported more emotional barriers to screening and greater challenges in understanding health information well enough to know what to do. Interventions that can improve breast screening participation rates should aim to reduce emotional barriers to breast screening, particularly for Arabic-speaking women

From Bengali to English: sequential bilingualism of a second-generation British Bangladeshi

The paper discusses sequential language acquisition of the researcher's daughter Safa who transformed from a monolingual Bengali speaker to an almost monolingual English speaker in a few months after moving to the UK. Safa was born in Bangladesh and was a monolingual Bengali speaker until she was three years and nine months when the family moved to the UK. Unlike most research on sequential bilingualism, Safa's transition from Bengali to English went through a period of an invented language, which she developed and used for a few months. Safa then underwent language shift as Bengali became her passive language. Safa's loss of fluency in Bengali was mainly due to the absence of Bengali linguistic environment, because her family lived outside the community. Safa's mother's indifference to Bangladeshi ethnicity and her parents’ positive attitude towards Britishness meant that her decline in Bengali did not cause them much concern. Despite the lack of proficiency in Bengali, Safa still retains a strong ethnic Bangladeshi identity. Tabors and Snow’s four-stage developmental process of sequential second-language acquisition has been applied to find the similarities and differences in Safa's case, while language maintenance and shift theories have contributed to the analysis of the process of her language shift

Diffusion of innovation: Knowledge and attitudes of oncology nurses regarding pharmacogenomic testing

There are currently over 20 different pharmacogenomic tests being used in the oncology field. However, only a few studies have been conducted regarding knowledge and attitudes towards pharmacogenomic testing among clinicians, in particular nursing. This descriptive study (guided by Rogers' Diffusion of Innovation Theory) utilizing descriptive statistics and variable selection methods was conducted with 368 oncology nurses in the state of North Carolina to identify and test key elements of Rogers' Diffusion of Innovation theory that play a role in the adoption of pharmacogenomic testing into the oncology practice by assessing oncology nurses knowledge, attitudes, and support for use of pharmacogenomic testing. Oncology nurses who participated in this study had a low perception of their knowledge of both genomics and pharmacogenomic testing based on their perceived knowledge. Additionally, attitudes towards pharmacogenomic testing were overall positive. Attitudes toward pharmacogenomic testing specifically related to oncology had a more favorable response than attitudes towards pharmacogenomic testing in general. Furthermore, the study revealed that oncology nurses in this study utilize pharmacogenomic testing information routinely in their nursing care