Safe Handling of Oral Chemotherapeutic Agents Among Nurses in Oncology Units

Abstract

Background: Several concerns have been raised in the literature regarding nurses’ awareness of the safe handling of oral chemotherapeutic agents (OACAs). This research aims to assess such awareness among nurses working in oncology units.

Methods: The study utilised a cross-sectional descriptive design, and was conducted between July 2022 and March 2023. Data were collected via a structured questionnaire from a previous study, with 34 variables grouped into four categories.

Results: Our study indicated that most nurses knew how to safely handle chemotherapeutic drugs. Correct responses per category were: storage, 77.7%; handling, 65.86%; disposal of contaminated materials, 94.45%; and education and training, 89.68%. Nurses with > 10 years’ experience had higher scores than those with < 10 years; the difference was significant (p = 0.039). Likewise, there was a significant difference (p = 0.002) in mean scores between nurses who had received training on the safe handling of chemotherapeutic drugs (92.1 ± 20) and those who had not (76.8 ± 30.7).

Conclusion: The study indicates that years of experience and roles at work have a significant impact on nurses’ knowledge about the storage of chemotherapeutic drugs. Overall, nurses with more experience and training scored significantly higher, suggesting that training is an effective way to improve knowledge and skills in this area. Furthermore, participation in this study might influence might influence nurses’ judgments when handling oral chemotherapeutic drugs and caring for cancer patients.