Over 15 years, we disseminated a structured curriculum related to cancer prevention, early detection, and control activities through preconference workshops at 9 international cancer nursing and multidisciplinary meetings (Figs 10-18). Participants established personal goals for themselves and identified outcomes they could accomplish over the 2 years between the 2 international meetings. The program was successful for a number of reasons:

Figure 10. World Health Organization AFRO Region Cancer Control Workshop participation 1986-2002.

Figure 11. World Health Organization AMRO Region Cancer Control Workshop participation 1986-2002.

Figure 12. World Health Organization AMRO Region Cancer Control Workshop participation 1986-2002.

Figure 13. World Health Organization AMRO Region Cancer Control Workshop participation 1986-2002.

Figure 14. World Health Organization EMRO Region Cancer Control Workshop participation 1986-2002.

Figure 15. World Health Organization EURO Region Cancer Control Workshop participation 1986-2002.

Figure 16. World Health Organization SEARO Region Cancer Control Workshop participation 1986-2002.

Figure 17. World Health Organization WPRO Region Cancer Control Workshop participation 1986-2002.

Figure 18. World Health Organization WPRO Region Cancer Control Workshop participation 1986-2002.

* The faculty's ability to teach cancer content with strategies that were sensitive to the learning needs of participants who came with varied ethnic and religious backgrounds;

* The participant's experiences, leadership skills, and commitment to make a difference;

* The financial support to help participants offset the expenses of attending an international cancer meeting;

* The teaching strategy that participants had to return to a second pre-conference, to meet their own and our expectations, between the 2 meetings.

The 9 conferences brought together nurse leaders from around the world to learn and adopt minimum cancer education and curriculum standards for their countries. Although there were cultural, language, religious, economic, social, and political factors that influenced the global health of the people of these countries, we found that despite these differences, there were many common health goals and solutions that transcend their differences. Every participant identified at least 1 cancer-related problem and a strategy to solve that problem. The commonalities identified by the participants united them globally in their desire to make a difference in cancer care and ultimately in the health of the people in their country. Actions taken by the participants varied by regions and even country by country, but each group shared their enthusiasm and knowledge with each other.

Program Outcome

The ultimate outcome of the program was that previously isolated communities and countries were now better connected and that common health goals and solutions transcended their differences and were possible to reach. This program can easily serve as a prototype for bringing together nurses to develop education initiatives for other acute and chronic health problems. Attention to issues related to cancer also benefited other causes such as the importance of preventing tobacco use among people.

The participants recognized that education is a critical component to improving healthcare and that as nurses they can play an essential role in influencing health outcomes through educating others about cancer in their countries. Knowledge derived from the participants who attended these conferences serves as a foundation for the identification of strategies to create healthier communities around the world. The commonalities and region-specific strategies were clearly articulated by the participants. We were fortunate to reach participants in as many countries that we did in these 15 years, but as you look at the maps and review the regions, there are many more countries that did not participate. Efforts to continue to educate nurses around the world must be maintained through professional organizations, international meetings, and government support. There is no question that if nurses are given opportunities to learn, they will use the knowledge to bring about changes that will affect global health. The future of creating healthy communities depends on continuing our efforts to educate nurses worldwide.

Impact Quotes

It is very interesting and important to meet colleagues from various parts of the world and [although] we are often divided by distance and oceans, we have a different color of skin, a different religion and culture, there is undoubtedly one matter common to all of us, we want to help suffering people.

Dear Madame C. R. Ash, dear lecturers, and all your assistants, let me thank you [with] all my heart for your support of all of us who would without your kind help never be able to take part on such needful and useful events which this Workshop and the International Conference undoubtedly are. And let me thank you also in the name of those who we as well as you are doing it for-our patients.