[Improving nursing staff accuracy in administering chemotherapy].
BACKGROUND
As most anticancer drugs are cytotoxic, their safe and error-free application is important. We analyzed data from the hematology-oncology ward chemotherapy checklist dated January 13th through February 3rd, 2007 and found accuracy rates for chemotherapy drug usage as low as 68.4%. Possible causes identified for this poor result include incomplete chemotherapy standards protocols, lack of chemotherapy quality control, and insufficient chemotherapy knowledge amongst nursing staff.


OBJECTIVE
This project aimed to improve the accuracy of nursing staff in administering chemotherapy and to raise nursing staff knowledge regarding chemotherapy.


METHODS
Our strategies for improvement included completing a chemotherapy standards protocol, establishing a chemotherapy quality-control monitoring system, augmenting chemotherapy training and adding appropriate equipment and staff reminders.


RESULTS
After strategies were implemented, accuracy in chemotherapy administration rose to 96.7%. Related knowledge amongst nursing staff also improved from an initial 77.5% to 89.2%.


CONCLUSIONS
Implementing the recommended measures achieved a significant improvement in the accuracy and quality of chemotherapy administered by nursing personnel.
Lin
Chin-Ying
CY
Department of Nursing, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital Hospital-Kaohsiung Medical Center, ROC.
Chu
Yun-Li
YL
Chiou
Yen-Gan
YG
Chiang
Ming-Chu
MC
D004358:Drug Therapy / Q000592:standards*; D019337:Hematologic Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000451:nursing; D006801:Humans; D009741:Nursing Staff, Hospital / Q000592:standards*; D011786:Quality Control