Abstract A19: [Advocate Abstract:] Survivors Teaching Students(R): Educating Medical and other Health Professional Students about Ovarian Cancer

"The goal of Survivors Teaching Students (STS) is for future physicians, nurse practitioners, nurses and physician assistants to be able to diagnose ovarian cancer when it is in its earlier, most treatable stages. Survivors Teaching Students is offered in 96 medical schools, 103 nursing schools, 13 Nurse Practitioner schools, 26 Physician Assistant schools, and 12 allied health programs across the United States. Active programs exist in 34 states, the District of Columbia, Virgin Islands, the United Kingdom and Canada. In 2015, the program educated 10,750 students, a 10% increase over the previous year. As of June, 2016, STS volunteers have already presented to approximately 6500 students in 35 states. More than 790 specially trained ovarian cancer survivors volunteer for this program. Each presentation includes a pre- and post-test to assess the student's knowledge about ovarian cancer detection, diagnostic procedures, symptoms, and risk factors, as well as the importance of referral to a gynecologic oncologist. Medical students' and nursing students' knowledge has increased by approximately 23% and 41% respectively during the presentations. Important facts about ovarian cancer: • Ovarian cancer is the most lethal gynecologic cancer and the fifth leading cause of cancer death among women in the United States. • The majority of women are diagnosed when their ovarian cancer is in an advanced stage. • Currently, there is no reliable screening test for the early d...
Source: Cancer Epidemiology Biomarkers and Prevention - Category: Cancer & Oncology Authors: Tags: Cancer Communications: Poster Presentations - Proffered Abstracts Source Type: research