THE FACTS

Provision for training, and education about warning signs and symptoms of cancer falls short in the curricula for healthcare professionals. Continuing professional development is designed to update skills and knowledge in cancer detection centres at all healthcare levels. Training intervention is essential if we want to fully equip our cancer workforce with the right skills, knowledge and competencies to meet the needs of individuals and communitie

WHAT WE NEED

ASK (The development of Attitudes, Skills and Knowledge):

Attitude: The current negative attitudes to cancer and cancer patients and the absence of patient-centred care add to the burden of patients already grappling with a devastating diagnosis.

Skills: Capacity-building is essential, and this relates to training, use of equipment, and the implementation of standards of procedure and care.

Knowledge: There are some clinics in rural South Africa where nurses and other primary healthcare workers have little knowledge of cancer, contributing to late diagnosis and late referral for treatment that impact treatment outcomes negatively.