[Management of cytostatic drugs by nurses: analysis of preliminary results].
BACKGROUND
Cytostatic drugs pose a quite specific occupational risk to health care workers. There is a wide range of potential harmful effects, including remote effects, exerted by this group of drugs. In Polish and international regulations, standards of work safety and hygiene concerning these substances are clearly defined. Nevertheless working conditions in Polish health care institutions are now mostly influenced by economic and organizational problems, which may also be reflected in the compliance with the work safety rules. This paper presents a preliminary analysis of subjective assessment of practice with regard to the management of cytostatics reported by nurses, an occupational group mostly exposed to these substances.


METHODS
The study was carried out at hospital departments in the Warmińsko-Mazurskie Voivodship, where exposure of the staff to these drugs was observed. The study covered the whole nursing staff exposed. Completed questionnaires were obtained from 60 nurses, aged +/- 32 years (20-54 years) with job seniority +/- 8 years (2-18), including 58 nurses with secondary education and two university graduates.


CONCLUSIONS
Undergraduate education did not develop in respondents skills to work with cytostatics. There is a need to increase the involvement of nursing schools, research institutes and teaching hospitals in the improvement of vocational training of nurses working with cytostatic drugs. To this end, all nurses should be covered with the obligatory training how to handle this group of drugs. The respondents reported that they had acquired their knowledge and experience of managing cytostatics in their work and during training organized at workplace. Despite the acquired knowledge and experience the interviewed nurses did not always comply with work safety and hygiene regulations. The problem of exposure to cytostatic drugs in the form of tablets was most frequently neglected. Some of the nurses were additionally exposed to ionizing radiation. Shortage of the nursing staff may be one of the reasons for the observed negligence of safety regulations. This may suggest the need to set norms on the adequate number of personnel employed in departments where cytostatics are used. Patients treated with cytostatic drugs should be informed about the purpose of preventive measures taken by nurses.
Bilski
Bartosz
B
Katedry Profilaktyki Zdrowotnej, Akademii Medycznej im. K. Marcinkowskiego w Poznaniu.
D000328:Adult; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004506:Education, Nursing / Q000592:standards; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007318:Inservice Training / Q000592:standards; D008875:Middle Aged; D009726:Nurses; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000517:prevention & control*; D016272:Occupational Health; D011044:Poland; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents