| dc.description.abstract | Ovarian cancer is the fifth leading cause of cancer death among women in the U.S. and kills approximately 14,000 women each year (Nezhat et al., 2015). Survival increases with early diagnosis; the five-year survival rate in stage I is 90%. Symptoms are vague and common to many health diseases, which may well explain why upwards of 70% of women with ovarian cancer are diagnosed at stage III or IV (Slatnik & Duff, 2015). Preventative guidelines in the U.S. do not recommend screening for ovarian cancer in women of average risk (AAFP, 2016b; ACOG, 2011; Doubeni et al., 2016; Moyer, 2012; NCCN, 2015; Qaseem et al., 2014; Wilt et al., 2015). A lack of screening recommendations and a subtle presentation point to the need for greater healthcare professional recognition of symptoms and risk factors of ovarian cancer, which can then lead to a prompt diagnosis. While healthcare professionals have the opportunity to improve women’s health, gaps in knowledge exist related to ovarian cancer risk factors and symptom recognition (Gajjar et al., 2012). Continuing education improves healthcare professionals’ performance and patient health outcomes (Cervero & Gaines, 2015). Increasing healthcare professionals’ knowledge of ovarian cancer may help to detect ovarian cancer in earlier stages and enhance health outcomes of women. Based on the need for an increase in awareness and knowledge among healthcare professionals, a local ovarian cancer conference was developed and offered to healthcare professionals. The conference focused on presenting ovarian cancer risk factors and symptoms. Attendees were provided with an ovarian cancer resource for patient education. The conference was evaluated through pretests and posttests and a conference evaluation survey. Data was collected the evening of the conference with 29 attendees responding. After the conference, correct responses increased in the areas of risk factor and symptom recognition. The number of correct responses increased from 106 on the pretest to 122 on the posttest. In regards to ability to educate women about ovarian cancer, 62% of respondents indicated that they were “very confident” in their ability. | en_US |
