Breast Cancer Care launches new e-learning platform in Scotland to support B-Aware campaign
Breast Cancer Care has launched a new e-learning platform in collaboration with Webanywhere to deliver breast awareness training courses online for healthcare professionals and community health awareness volunteers in Scotland.
The e-learning platform is part of Breast Cancer Care’s B-Aware campaign (1) aimed at promoting early detection of breast cancer and improving survival rates in Scotland as cancer survival rates in Scotland are one of the lowest in Europe (2).
It is recognised that the sooner breast cancer is diagnosed, the more effective treatment may be. The online course will help give people the knowledge and confidence to share the importance of being breast aware with communities where prompt detection rates of breast cancer are low.
Breast Cancer Care worked with Webanywhere to develop an online 2-hour pilot training course to be given to 50 volunteers and professionals including nurses, pharmacists, social workers and non-clinical staff.
Webanywhere developed a Moodle (open-source) platform and a course using SCORM content including quizzes and custom certificates. The training portal which hosts the B-Aware online course also has information about face-to-face training and FAQs.
Over 100 people have already signed up to the B-Aware online course since it went live in October 2014.
Davinia Green, Head of Breast Awareness and Early Detection at Breast Cancer Care, says: “We are really excited to have developed such an innovative e-learning project with Webanywhere and have had a really positive response since it launched.
The B-aware online course will help us train even more healthcare professionals to work with local communities where early detection of breast cancer is low. It’s vital that people are confident about recognising the signs and symptoms of breast cancer and this course will help us to reach more men and women with the breast awareness message than ever before.”
Conor Gilligan, Head of Workplace Learning at Webanywhere, says:"We are delighted to have been able to work in partnership with Breast Cancer Care on this project and we are confident the e-learning platform will be a great support to the B-Aware campaign".
More details and course registration is available at http://learn.breastcancercare.org.uk/.
Notes to editors
1. Breast Cancer Care’s three year campaign is being supported by Chris Weir, who also has become Breast Cancer Care Scotland's first Breast Health Awareness Ambassador. She is donating £250,000 in each year of the campaign’s life.
2. ‘Cancer survival in Europe 1999-2007 by country and age: results of EUROCARE-5 – a population-based study’, De Angelis et al, lancet.com/oncology, January 2014. Researchers found that the average breast cancer survival rate for Europe is 81.8%. Iceland is 87.2%, France 86.1%. Scotland by comparison is at 78.5%.
About Breast Cancer Care
Breast Cancer Care is the only specialist breast cancer support charity working throughout the UK. We were founded in 1973 by Betty Westgate, who was herself diagnosed with breast cancer. In the ensuing forty years we have supported millions of women and their families through our face-to-face, phone and online services. We also provide training, support and networking opportunities to specialist breast cancer nurses, and Breast Cancer Care publications are used by the majority of breast cancer units throughout the UK. We campaign for better support and care and promote the importance of early detection, involving people with breast cancer in all that we do. Visit www.breastcancercare.org.uk or call our free Helpline on 0808 800 6000.