Effect of Occupational Health Safety Program on Perception and Practices of Nurses Exposed to Chemotherapy Hazards

Zalhaf, Sara Mohamed; El-Shafie, Ikbal Fath-Allah; El Kazeh, Entisar Abo Elghite Alhossiny; Mahmoud, Nahla Said; El- Mezayen, Samira El-Sayed

doi:10.21608/tsnj.2024.380224

Effect of Occupational Health Safety Program on Perception and Practices of Nurses Exposed to Chemotherapy Hazards

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

¹ Master student at Community Health Nursing , Faculty of Nursing, Tanta University Egypt. 2Nursing Specialist at Tanta University Hospital, Egypt

² Professor of Community Health Nursing. Faculty of Nursing. Tanta University. Egypt.

³ Professor of Community Health Nursing. Faculty of Nursing. Tanta University. Egyp

⁴ Assist. Professor Community Health Nursing. Faculty of Nursing. Tanta University. Egypt.

10.21608/tsnj.2024.380224

Abstract

Background: Occupational exposure to chemotherapeutic drugs occurs in all aspects of drug
handling. Safe handlining practices ought to be followed by nurses for prevention and minimize
exposure. Study aimed to evaluate the effect of an occupational health safety program on
perception and practices of nurses exposed to chemotherapy hazards at the oncology center at Tanta
University Hospitals. Subjects& Methods: An experimental design was used in this study,
including all nurses working in the previous setting (n=110) and divided randomly into two equal
groups: Study group and control group. Study tools: three tools were used: I-socio-demographic &
occupational characteristics and knowledge of nurses regarding handling of chemotherapy, II-
beliefs of the nurses regarding chemotherapy occupational hazards, and III-observational checklist
for nurses’ practices. Results: All the studied nurses in the age group 26-30 years and graduated
from Technical Institute of Nursing. The majority (83.6%) of the study group had good knowledge,
(81.8%) had positive beliefs and (87.3%) of them had satisfactory practice at post-program.
Conclusion: Compared to control group, study group showed a statistically significant
improvement in the score of all knowledge, beliefs, and practice items one month after intervention.
Recommendations: Occupational health nurses need to periodically and continuously conduct
orientation and in service training program for all newly employed nurses at oncology centers