Lack of Nurse Education on Genomics a Barrier to Its Use in Clinical Practice

Pediatric oncology nurses need and desire more education to fully grasp the nuances of genomics within their clinical practice, according to a study recently published in the Journal of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology.

A team of researchers explored potential barriers to achieving genomics literacy for pediatric oncology nurses. Many nurses are interested in genomics; however, existing research suggests that they lack basic knowledge in this arena, as well as have limited self-assurance in using genomic information when providing care. 

Due to the increasing importance of genomics in pediatric oncology, the time is right for assessing the specific gaps and guiding the development of effective educational curricula for practicing nurses, the researchers noted.

They conducted a study comprising an electronic survey, followed by a series of 5 focus groups to gather more nuanced information. 

A total of 670 registered nurses (RNs), nurse practitioners, RN anesthetists, and physician assistants were invited to participate, and 168 consented. Of the participants, 150 (89%) said they had not taken any academic course or continuing education on genomics.

The survey included 15 genetics-focused questions. Some questions asked respondents to rank various responses from 1 to 6, with 1 being “highest significance/importance,” 5 being “lowest significance/importance,” and 6 signifying “other” with a blank text box to write in a comment. The issues ranked were perceived barriers to obtaining genomics information, nurse use of genomics in clinical practice, preferences for receiving new or continuing education related to genomics, and desired materials to use when educating patients’ families. 

Time constraints was cited as one of the top barriers, with 58% ranking its significance/importance as a 1 and 19% ranking it as a 2. Lack of educational materials was ranked as a 1 by 41% of the respondents and as a less significant issue by 32%. 

Many respondents (69%) also cited a lack of confidence or understanding about genomics as the major barrier to incorporating it into their daily practice. More than half noted that they were uncertain about their scope of practice in genomics. 

When asked about methods of education, approximately 75% of respondents replied that they preferred seminars, question-and-answer sessions with faculty, or case-based interactive computer modules. Additionally, 64% preferred short illustrated books to use to educate patients and families or caregivers.  

The researchers reported that the participants were very receptive to receiving education about genomics. 

“Addressing the confidence gap through targeted engagement of physicians and genomics professionals in the education of nurses, implementation of flexible scheduling of initiatives, and increased access to appropriate educational materials both in short- and longer-term scenarios will create a more proficient and confident nursing workforce,” the research team concluded. 

“The benefits of investing in nurse education and confidence-building around genomics cannot be overstated as it holds the potential to revolutionize patient care and transform value-based outcomes not only in pediatric oncology but across all nursing specialties.”