| Sumario: | Screening, Early Detection, Genomics Significance & Background: Clinical rotations of nursing students in oncology typically emphasize skill acquisition and implementation of care as the primary focus. An innovative alliance between a university BSN program and an NCI designated Comprehensive Cancer Center (CCC) has been established to introduce concepts of population health to students. This year-long seminar, instructed by CCC nurse educators, integrates concepts of the cancer continuum with implications in population health. A need to explore cancer screening knowledge correlated with demographic data was identified as a project to help establish awareness of how cultural identity and social experiences influence health-related decision making in cancer prevention. Purpose: To describe the CCC oncology seminar designed for BSN nursing students and a project implemented to cultivate knowledge in awareness of public perceptions of nationally established cancer screening guidelines across demographic groups. Interventions: Students are enrolled for an entire academic year at the CCC. The CCC nurse educators deliver didactic interactive courses on incidence, prevalence, morbidity and mortality of cancer across demographic groups, along with concepts on the social determinants of health (SDOH), qualitative research methods, and data analysis. Students (n=6) engaged in a comprehensive project that involved producing a term paper on the cancer continuum and standards of cancer screening, conducting interviews (n=30), and analyzing the resulting data. The final project was presented in poster format to CCC and University representatives. Results: Thematic analysis confirmed the convenience sample responses recognized a correlation between ethnicity, culture and cancer. Notably, 90% strongly agreed with the value of cancer screening specifically for prostate, breast, colon and cervical cancers. However, many were unaware of recommended lung and skin cancer screenings. Participants also expressed concern over the purpose of demographic data collection. Discussion: The students concluded that cancer prevention teaching about screenings must integrate factors of cultural identity, gender, race and socioeconomic context. Transparency and respectful screening education is essential for cultivating public trust and advancing health equity for all. Preparing BSN nursing students to conceptualize population health across the cancer continuum serves to enhance oncology nurse recruitment and improve cancer outcomes for all by strengthening knowledge for health care decision making for cancer prevention.
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