Cancer Information Services: a pre-/post-evaluation of training to promotenationwide consistency of information

The object of this study was to evaluate whether an integrated training pac kage improved the consistency and accuracy of advice about breast cancer to callers of Cancer Information Services (CIS) in Australia. The study follo wed a pre-/post-evaluation design and the participants were all CIS officer s from the state-based CIS. A computerized database was used which containe d the current best advice about breast cancer combined with a 1-day interac tive training workshop for all officers of participating CIS. The proportio n of responses that accorded with predetermined model answers for each of f ive scenarios employed by simulated callers during normal working hours at pre-and post-evaluation were then calculated. There were 95 simulated calls during pre-evaluation, and 104 calls post-evaluation. In some cases, such as breast reconstruction, accordance with model answers was high at both pr e- and post-test. The proportion of responses on an item that related to a description of lymphoedaema differed from pre-to post-test with P = 0.007; while an item on the appropriateness of discussing genetic testing with gen eral practitioners differed from pre-to post-test with P = 0.003. There was less concordance, both pre- and posttest, for issues related to surgery, h ospitalization, familial aspects and Tamoxifen. We concluded that the inter vention presents a method of disseminating consistent information across a number of independent CIS. Some areas were identified that require more tar geted intervention.