Modernising cancer and palliative care education in the UK: insights from one cancer network

This article reports on a scoping study into cancer education provision in one UK Cancer Network. A range of professionals (nurses, allied health professionals (AHPs), health care support workers and educationalists) were invited to participate in focus group or individual interviews, or to return questionnaires regarding their perceptions of training needs and current opportunities. This yielded data from a total of 94 participants. In addition, curriculum documents from local universities were subjected to thematic analysis. Findings from the relevant section of The National Cancer Patient Survey were also considered to provide insight into the expressed needs of local service users.
Most cancer and palliative care education was directed towards nurses employed in specialist oncology settings. Some groups appeared to be poorly served (including community nurses, senior nurses and AHPs). No evidence could be found of inter-professional cancer or palliative care education within the university sector. Curriculum content did not appear to reflect the ethnic diversity or socio-economic deprivation that characterised the local heath economy. Further research is needed to determine how best to ensure that continuing professional education reflects the needs of all practitioners involved in cancer and palliative care.