A Feasibility Study of Skill Transfer to Female Health Worker in Screening of Cervical Cancer and Breast Cancer Joshi Radhika1, Pratinidhi Asha K.2, Vhawal Vaishali1, Chougule Pandurang3, Kanetkar Sujata4, Tata Sunita5, Kakade Satish2 1Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Krishna Institute of Medical Sciences 2Department of Community Medicine, Krishna Institute of Medical Sciences 3Department of Surgery, Krishna Institute of Medical Sciences 4Department of Pathology, Krishna Institute of Medical Sciences 5Director of Nursing Services, Krishna Hospital and Medical Research Centre, Karad, (Maharashtra) India Online published on 23 December, 2019. Abstract Screening is possible for cancer of cervix and breast which are the first two commonest cancers in women. Trained nurses know how to carry out vaginal examination hence there is a possibility of training them VIA, VILI and taking of PAP smears. Theoretically CBE can be taught to them so that any woman coming to the PHC for any reason can be screened for these two cancer sites. A study was therefore planned to find out feasibility of skill transfer of screening of cancer cervix and cancer breast. Thirty nine nurses were from KIMS and 8 from randomly selected 4 PHCs. After orientation in first session 12 hands on training sessions were taken. Two nurses were trained at a time. The technique and the lesions were demonstrated with the A. V. aids. After first three hands on training sessions, the trainee nurses were instructed to undertake screening on their own between two hands on training sessions. All suspected cases were called again on weekly training days for confirmation of findings of nursing staff. A theory and practical examination were undertaken at the end of the training. Thirty eight out of 39 nurses attended all the training sessions and could master the skill of screening the women for cancer cervix by VIA, VILI and could take PAP smear by the spatula as well as CBE. Nurses scored more than 50% marks with min. 57% and max. 78%. Difficulties encountered in the training like obtaining acetic acid and Lugol's iodine at PHCs needs to be addressed. It is possible to do skill transfer for VIA, VILI and taking of PAP smears as well as CBE to nurses by 12 hands on training sessions. If nurses are trained in this way they can start opportunistic screening of the women visiting PHCs regularly in the PHCs in rural area and hospitals in urban area. Top Keywords Cervix Cancer, Breast Cancer, Clinical Breast Examination. Top |