Perception, knowledge, and handling practice regarding the risk of exposure to antineoplastic drugs in oncology day hospitalization units and compounding unit staff

Abstract

Background Antineoplastic drug exposure is a major problem in regard to caregivers’ health. The aim of the present study was to assess the perception, knowledge, and handling practices of all occupation level categories of two oncology day hospitalization units and two compounding units regarding the risk of exposure to antineoplastic drugs. Methods This descriptive study, performed through face-to-face interviews, concurrently assessed the perception, knowledge, and handling practices of antineoplastic drugs in five different job categories in four different settings. This work was part of a larger comprehensive project examining surface and blood contamination. Different scores were assigned to evaluate responses to a questionnaire about the perception, knowledge, and handling practices of healthcare workers, a risk global score including a risk perception score, and education/knowledge and handling practices scores. Results In the survey, continuous training was associated with the global risk score ( p = 0.03), particularly with the handling practices risk score ( p = 0.01). Job category was also significantly associated with the global risk score ( p < 0.001), particularly with the handling practices risk score ( p < 0.001) and the education/knowledge score ( p < 0.001). Pharmacy technicians had the highest score regarding risk perception (71.4%), indicating a higher perception of risk, and had a lower score regarding handling practices (25.0%) as well as a lower score (15.7%) regarding risk knowledge. Nurses and physicians had a high score (50%) regarding the risk of handling practices and a score of 57.1% regarding risk perception, indicating an increased perception of safety. Auxiliary caregivers had the highest global score (43.5%) and a score of 30.0% regarding handling practices. Conclusions This study identified significant differences among healthcare workers depending on job categories in the antineoplastic drug handling practices and in the knowledge of the risks associated with occupational exposure to antineoplastic drugs. These differences were particularly important between trained and untrained participants, revealing the importance of implementing a continuous training program.

Perception, knowledge, practices and training regarding the risk of exposure to antineoplastic drugs in three French compounding units

“…24 The majority of the participants in our study were aware that all ADs do not have the same risk level. Almost all of them were confident in handling risky situations such as spills in CU (89.7%); this level was higher than in previous studies conducted in ODHU (48.8%) 25 or in OR (49.0%). 24 In the case of exposure to ADs, all CU caregivers in the current study responded appropriately by not using hydroalcoholic gel, which was not the case for caregivers in the ODHU (26.8%).…”

“…25 Moreover, not all the participants in CU thought that the PPE they are provided was suited concerning ergonomic and protection in the handling of ADs (92.3%), but the proportion was still greater than in the ODHU (73.2%). 25 This result was in accordance with the fact that healthcare workers in our study said they always wear both gloves and gowns when they handle ADs, in contrast to Constantinidis et al 26 and Boiano et al 27 who found that gloves were not always worn by people handling ADs (not only in CU). Nevertheless, some inconsistent answers indicated that healthcare workers' perception, knowledge and practices were not so good concerning certain matters.…”

“…In our study, most of the healthcare workers decontaminated the exposed surfaces at every position change, but 35.9% did not decontaminate at all for all job categories except for AC; this result is once again better than in other settings, such as ODHU, where 65.9% of the caregivers did not decontaminate. 25 Most of the participants used Surfanios® (Anios, Lezennes, France) or an equivalent. Silver et al found that nurse-perceived availability of PPE was associated with more reported PPE use and lower odds of reported spills.…”

Prevalence, Risk, and Challenges of Extemporaneous Preparation for Pediatric Patients in Developing Nations: A Review

“…Many factors may affect the stability of drug substances and dosage forms, but the following can be considered two major factors: First, the environmental conditions under which the active ingredient or excipient is compounded, packaged, or stored [ 80 ], and second, the actual dosage form or active ingredient. Furthermore, the capability, knowledge, and responsibility of the pharmacist become key to the maintenance of the stability of the active ingredient [ 86 , 87 ].…”

“…In fact, compounding is one of the competencies of a pharmacist [ 21 ]. Several studies have mentioned that pharmacists have higher awareness and knowledge of compounding than other healthcare workers [ 86 , 87 , 89 ], thus reducing the risk in the compounding process.…”