Knowledge, Attitude, and Performance of Oncology Nurses Handling Antineoplastic Drugs in Hospitals of Urmia University, Iran

Antineoplastic drugs (ANDs) for the treatment of cancers could result in occupational exposure of nurses and consequent side effects. This study aimed to evaluate knowledge, attitude, and performance of oncology nurses and to survey nurses’ chemotherapy workload and the experienced side effects. A cross-sectional study was conducted at four hospitals of Urmia University, Iran. Two self-reported questionnaires were distributed among 54 oncology nurses to collect information on nurses’ workload and side effects as well as to evaluate their level of knowledge, attitude, and performance. Totally 54 nurses were participated in the study. The mean age and chemotherapy work experience of nurses were 32.4±6.5 and 4.3±3.5 years, respectively. About 52% and 36% of nurses reported the lack of safety guideline and training program at their workplaces, respectively. Hair loss, headache, and period abnormalities were the most reported side effects of exposure with ANDs. All nurses prepared ANDs in biological safety cabinet but 85.5% and 37% of nurses used respirator and eye protection during drug preparation. The mean score of knowledge, attitude, and performance of nurses were 9.43±1.5 out of 12, 39.14±6.5 out of 60, and 13.41±4.7 out of 23, respectively. The result clearly point to the fact that there is a need for implementation of guidelines and training in studied oncology units. Through provision of proper personal protection and regarded training, hospitals could demonstrate organizational support leading to improvement of knowledge and performance as well as decrease of nurses’ concerns in exposure with ANDs.