Knowledge and Practices on the Safe Handling of Cytotoxic Drugs Among Oncology Nurses Working at Tertiary Teaching Hospitals in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Latent class analysis of healthcare workers' knowledge, attitudes, and practice levels, and risk factors regarding associated with occupational exposure to antineoplastic drugs: A multicenter cross-sectional study

The study investigated the health care workers' knowledge, attitudes, and practice levels regarding occupational protection against antineoplastic drugs (ADs) via analysis of latent classes and their influencing factors. A convenience sampling method was used to select healthcare workers from 7 hospitals in southern China between April and August 2023. A questionnaire based on literature analysis, brainstorming, and Delphi method was used to investigate the knowledge, practice, and attitudes of healthcare workers exposed to ADs for appropriate occupational protection intervention, followed by latent class analysis. The factors influencing latent classes were identified via single-factor analysis and multiple logistic regression. A total of 322 healthcare workers from departments using ADs were surveyed. The knowledge score associated with occupational protection against ADs was 31.95 ± 7.38. The attitude score was 21.08 ± 2.729, while the practice score was 36.54 ± 9.485. The overall score was 89.57 ± 15.497. The healthcare workers were divided into 4 latent classes based on their knowledge, attitude, and practice associated with occupational protection measures against ADs. Healthcare workers in the 4 categories showed significance differences based on professional title, marital status, educational background, and frequency of exposure to ADs (P < .05). The knowledge, attitude, and practice levels of healthcare workers engaged in ADs at work can be divided into 4 latent classes. Despite their increased awareness of the hazards associated with ADs and their attitudes toward protection, the healthcare workers displayed poor knowledge and implementation of occupational protection measures.

Enhancement of paediatric oncology pharmacy practices in a low-middle-income country through teaching and training using the My Child Matters Grant

The development of a successful oncology pharmacy system includes competency training, cost-efficient procurement, proper storage, preparation and administration of chemotherapy, and appropriate waste disposal. Low-middle-income countries such as Pakistan face several challenges within the realm of oncology pharmacy such as the unavailability of training programmes, resources and financial support, and inconsistencies in the safe handling of cytotoxic drugs. The Indus Hospital and Health Network (IHHN) is among the pioneers of oncology pharmacy practices in Pakistan, with a well-established Oncology Pharmacy Team and chemotherapy preparation in accordance with the United States Pharmacopeia 797 and 800 safety guidelines. The My Child Matters Grant was awarded by the Sanofi Espoir Foundation to the Department of Paediatric Hematology and Oncology at IHHN for holistic improvement in childhood cancer care through teaching, training and capacity building. Partnerships were formed with five public-sector paediatric oncology units nationwide. Initiatives were taken to improve oncology pharmacy practices including teaching and training courses, in-person assessment visits, and mentorship and liaison efforts. Despite prevailing challenges, promising improvements were noted at each centre. However, Pakistan needs to establish a national plan for childhood cancer with the creation of regional organisations for the training and monitoring of oncology pharmacists. Centralisation of pharmacy operations within hospitals is essential to maintain the availability, storage, preparation and administration standards of chemotherapy.

Assessing safe chemotherapy needs and practices in Ile-Ife, Nigeria: a multi-disciplinary quality improvement project

OBJECTIVE

To explore the gaps in the safe handling, administration, preparation and disposal of chemotherapy agents in low and middle-income countries.

DESIGN

Two surveys comprising a needs assessment survey and an American Cancer Society (ACS) ChemoSafe Facility Assessment.

SETTING

2019 African Research Group for Oncology Symposium in South-West Nigeria (needs assessment) and the 2021 virtual engagement (ChemoSafe Assessment).

PARTICIPANTS

Health professionals (n=50 of 98) from multiple institutions across Nigeria (needs assessment survey) and a designated task force of health professionals (n=10) from one teaching hospital in Southwest Nigeria(ChemoSafe Facility Assessment).

RESULTS

In 2019, 75% of survey respondents (n=50) reported a lack of training resources for safe handling of chemotherapy. Additionally, 61% felt dissatisfaction with assessment practices for preparing and administering chemotherapy. ChemoSafe is a programme developed by the ACS to assess the ability of a facility to handle hazardous drugs. The 2021 ACS ChemoSafe survey administered at one teaching hospital indicated several areas for improvement to promote concordance with international standards for safe handling. Thirty-three (19.5%) items received a 'Yes' response (ie, met compliance with international standards).

CONCLUSION

There is a need for the implementation of training resources for handling, administering and disposing of chemotherapy at sites across Nigeria. Strategies to identify and prioritise areas of need must be implemented in the context of available resources.

Exposure Assessment and Monitoring of Antiblastic Drugs Preparation in Health Care Settings: A Systematic Review

Several antiblastic drugs (ADs) are classified as carcinogenic, mutagenic, and/or toxic for reproduction. Despite established guidelines and safe handling technologies, ADs contamination of the work environments could occur in healthcare settings, leading to potential exposure of healthcare staff. This systematic review aims to investigate the main techniques and practices for assessing ADs occupational exposure in healthcare settings. The reviewed studies unveil that workplace contamination by ADs appears to be a still-topical problem in healthcare settings. These issues are linked to difficulties in guaranteeing: (i) the adherence to standardized protocols when dealing with ADs, (ii) the effective use of personal protective equipment by operators involved in the administration or management of ADs, (iii) a comprehensive training of the healthcare personnel, and (iv) a thorough health surveillance of exposed workers. A "multi-parametric" approach emerges as a desirable strategy for exposure assessment. In parallel, exposure assessment should coincide with the introduction of novel technologies aimed at minimizing exposure (i.e., risk management). Assessment must consider various departments and health operators susceptible to ADs contamination, with a focus extended beyond worst-case scenarios, also considering activities like surface cleaning and logistical tasks related to ADs management. A comprehensive approach in ADs risk assessment enables the evaluation of distinct substance behaviors and subsequent exposure routes, affording a more holistic understanding of potential risks.

Onco-pharmacist led evaluation of knowledge, attitude & practice (KAP) of safe handling cytotoxic drugs among health care professional's (HCP's) in tertiary care hospital: A hospital based interventional Study

BACKGROUND

Cytotoxic drugs (CDs) are hazardous in nature. But it is necessary for the treatment in cancer patients. The healthcare professionals (HCPs) act as a facilitator through which the manufactured CDs reach the patient. However, safe handling of CDs becomes a primary concern not only for the recipients but also for the HCPs.

METHODS

On Ethics committee approval, a prospective- interventional study was conducted among HCPs who are involved in handling of CDs in Oncology department of tertiary care hospital. The participants were screened for their eligibility criteria & 73 HCPs were recruited. The initial data was collected from the HCPs through interview & questionnaires. Later the participants were trained by oncology-pharmacist (7-8 months) for safe handling of CDs. After the training the participants were tested again through interview & questionnaires.

RESULTS

73 participants, (75%) nurses & (25%) physicians were included in the study. Among these participants, only 32.87% underwent training on reconstitution whereas 67.12% of the participants didn't undergo any training. The increase in mean score of KAP after the training was observed to be 3.44 ± 4.32, 1.23 ± 1.51 and 1.3 ± 1.01 respectively.

CONCLUSION

The study concludes that mandatory requirement of training for HCPs using SOP's by qualified oncology-pharmacist to minimize the hazardous effects of CDs. It also highlights the improvisation techniques for handling of CDs will enhance the safety profile of HCPs & the patients, which helps in refining the quality of pharmaceutical and health care services provided in the cancer care settings.

The impact of training chemotherapy safety standards with a smartphone application on the knowledge, attitude, and performance of nurses

BACKGROUND

Nurses who play the leading role in caring for patients, especially nurses in the chemotherapy department who are constantly exposed to high-risk drugs and their side effects, should pay more attention to occupational safety. This study was performed to determine the effect of training chemotherapy safety standards using a smartphone application on nurses' knowledge, attitude, and performance.

METHODS

The whole enumeration of fifty oncology nurses was recruited who they worked in 3 hospitals affiliated with Lorestan University of Medical Sciences (west of Iran). The study was conducted from June to November 2021. The training was done for four weeks with a smartphone application, including six main courses of familiarity with hazardous drugs, Personal Protective Equipment, preparation, storage and transfer, spilling, and wastes disposal of hazardous drudges . The nurses' knowledge, attitude, and performance questionnaire were completed before, immediately after, and one month after the intervention. Data analysis was performed using SPSS version 26, descriptive and inferential statistical tests of independent t-test, one-way analysis of variance, Spearman's rank correlation coefficient, repeated measures analysis of variance, and the Generalized Estimating Equation (GEE) model.

RESULTS

Mean knowledge score of participants before, immediately after, and one month after the intervention was (47.18 ± 8.19), (60.08 ± 3.82), and (61.88 ± 3.45), respectively. The mean attitude score of participants before, immediately after, and one month after the intervention was (30.34 ± 3.94), (34.32 ± 3.25), and (34.98 ± 2.88), in order, and the mean performance score of participants before, immediately after, and one month after the intervention was (43.60 ± 5.11), (51.78 ± 3.15) and (52.88 ± 3.06), respectively. The mean nurses' knowledge, attitude, and performance score increased significantly over time (P < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Teaching chemotherapy safety standards using the application improved oncology nurses' knowledge, attitude, and performance. Appropriate educational programs, especially by new methods such as E-learning, are recommended for providing safety for nurses.

Development and Evaluation of an e-Learning Module for Low- and Middle-Income Countries on the Safe Handling of Chemotherapy Drugs

Despite the growing use of chemotherapy drugs in resource-constrained settings, training opportunities on safe handling practices are lacking. This study's objectives were to develop and evaluate an e-learning training module on the safe handling of chemotherapy drugs to strengthen knowledge and practices in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). The module's curriculum was developed using the Six-Step Approach for Curriculum Development for Medical Education. Asynchronous, self-paced, e-learning lessons within the module were created and uploaded onto a free online platform, Pharm-Ed. The study ran online from January to April 2021. Participant recruitment was done using convenience sampling through various channels (social media, communities of practice). Training module effectiveness was evaluated using knowledge assessments (a pre-test and post-test study design) and participant satisfaction. We developed a comprehensive e-learning module on the safe handling of chemotherapy drugs comprising 11 asynchronous, self-paced, e-learning lessons. Eighty-two participants (68% pharmacists and 17% pharmacy students) from 17 countries completed at least one lesson, with a total of 259 lessons completed. Evaluation of the different lessons showed significant improvements in theoretical knowledge (p < 0.01) in all except one lesson and a high degree of participant satisfaction. As the use of anti-cancer drugs in LMICs will continue to increase, this e-learning module is an effective means to address the lack of training opportunities on the safe handling of chemotherapies for healthcare workers in these countries. The module could be integrated into a multi-modal approach aimed at reducing occupational exposure and increasing patient safety in cancer care centers.

Chemotherapy supply chain management, safe-handling and disposal in Ethiopia: the case of Tikur Anbessa specialized hospital

Optimal chemotherapy management is substandard in low and middle-income countries. We aimed to identify major gaps to design interventional strategies for improved chemotherapy management at Tikur Anbessa Specialized Hospital (TASH), Ethiopia. This study was conducted using an observational checklist, open-ended questions, record review, and key informant interviews of department heads and focal persons at TASH. Findings were categorized into specific themes that developed. Chemotherapy represented 60.2% of the hospital medication budget. Drug utilization was quantified via monthly consumption documentation and forecasting. However, unreliable data resulted in frequent stockouts (unavailability of the item when it is needed) of chemotherapy with only 67.8% availability. Thirteen healthcare personnel (9 nurses, 2 pharmacists and 2 hospital cleaners) were interviewed: all clinical staff but neither of hospital cleaners believed that they were at risk of hazardous agents. Challenges identified included inadequate and frequent stockouts (unavailability of the item when it is needed) of personal protective equipment, lack of standardized guidelines for chemotherapy handling, admixture, and disposal, lack of designated preparation rooms, and lack of training. All nine nurses handled chemotherapy admixtures despite only two nurses previously receiving in-service training. Most of the participants had never witnessed the disposal of anticancer drugs. Prompted by the results of this study, a dialogue was initiated among members of TASH, the American Cancer Society and the University of North Carolina to implement action-oriented projects to address the gaps identified at TASH. These gaps directly and indirectly affect care and treatment outcomes of patients at a large cancer center. Collaborations with well-resourced centers are potential models for improving chemotherapy management.

EQUIPAMENTOS DE PROTEÇÃO INDIVIDUAL NA ASSISTÊNCIA HOSPITALAR DE ENFERMAGEM: REVISÃO DE ESCOPO

RESUMO Objetivo: analisar a produção científica sobre o uso de equipamento de proteção individual pelos profissionais da enfermagem durante a assistência no âmbito hospitalar. Método: trata-se de uma revisão de escopo, baseada no Manual Institute Joanna Briggs de 2020 e norteado pelo PRISMA-PCR. Utilizou-se como base de dados PUBMED, EMBASE, CINAHL, LILACS, BDENF, SCOPUS e WEB of SCIENCE, sendo o período de busca escolhido nos últimos 20 anos. A coleta de dados ocorreu de setembro a outubro de 2021. Protocolo de estudo disponível em Framework: https://osf.io/7d8q9/files/. Foram incluídos estudos sobre o uso dos Equipamentos de Proteção Individual na assistência direta da equipe de enfermagem nos hospitais e excluídos aqueles que abordassem em outros cenários, revisões, teses, dissertações e estudos não disponíveis na íntegra. Resultados: a amostra foi composta por 26 documentos. O equipamento mais citado e com maior adesão nos estudos foram as luvas de procedimento, enquanto que o uso dos óculos foi o menor. Dos fatores que facilitam o uso dos EPIs pelos enfermeiros destacam-se as relações interpessoais, conhecimento, carga de trabalho, padronização das diretrizes e participação da equipe assistencial nas decisões gerenciais. Conclusão: a necessidade de educação dos profissionais utilizando como estratégia o conhecimento comportamental, a manutenção da comunicação nos setores para evitar a contaminação, a influência da carga de trabalho, a padronização das diretrizes são necessárias nos serviços de saúde hospitalar para aumentar o engajamento dos profissionais de saúde às práticas de biossegurança.

PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT IN HOSPITAL NURSING CARE: A SCOPING REVIEW

ABSTRACT Objective: to analyze the scientific production on the use of Personal Protective Equipment by Nursing professionals during the care provided in the hospital environment. Method: this is a scoping review, based on the 2020 Joanna Briggs Institute Manual and guided by PRISMA-PCR. PUBMED, EMBASE, CINAHL, LILACS, BDENF, SCOPUS and WEB of SCIENCE were used as databases, choosing a search period corresponding to the last 20 years. Data collection took place from September to October 2021. The study protocol is available in the Open Science Framework: https://osf.io/7d8q9/files/. Studies on the use of Personal Protective Equipment in direct care provided by the Nursing team in hospitals were included; and those that addressed reviews, theses and dissertations in other settings were excluded, as well as studies not available in full. Results: the sample consisted of 26 documents. The items most cited and with the highest adherence in the studies were procedure gloves, while use of goggles was the least mentioned. The following stand out among the factors that facilitate PPE use by nurses: interpersonal relationships, knowledge, workload, standardization of guidelines, and participation of the care team in management decisions. Conclusion: the need to educate the professionals using behavioral knowledge as a strategy, as well as maintenance of communication in the sectors to avoid contamination, the influence of workload and the standardization of guidelines are necessary in the hospital health services to increase health professionals' engagement towards the biosafety practices.