Clinical Trials Informed Consent: An Educational Intervention to Improve Nurses' Knowledge and Communications Skills.

BACKGROUND

Teach-back is an evidence-based tool recommended for use during informed consent (IC) discussions. The nurses' role in the IC process is important, particularly for patient education and advocacy.

OBJECTIVES

The aim was to initiate and evaluate an educational program for nurses to improve knowledge and communication skills used in IC for cancer clinical trials.

METHODS

An educational program was presented to nurses. Anonymous pre-, post-, and one-month postprogram surveys measured nurses' knowledge of research and the importance of and confidence using teach-back during IC discussions.

FINDINGS

Nurses had high research knowledge scores and statistically significant improvement in pre- and post-test scores of conviction and confidence using teach-back. Nurses employed essential elements of teach-back before the program but had greater recognition of elements after the program.