title: Evaluating nurses' knowledge of chemotherapy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The characteristics of the drugs that are used in chemotherapy have given rise to many issues, one of which is whether nurses are competent when working with chemotherapy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Nurses' knowledge of chemotherapy was evaluated with a questionnaire that included 20 true-or-false questions. The questionnaire was developed from literature and expert input and validated by subject experts (content validity). A pilot study (contrasted-groups approach) was also conducted.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 203 nurses participated in the study and achieved an average overall correct answer rate of 60.9%. Most of the respondents, 63.5% (129 of 203), had a score of less than 70, and 77.3% (157 of 203) hoped to undergo more training on chemotherapy. Their knowledge of chemotherapy came mainly from consultation with colleagues (4.0 ± 0.8) and in-hospital continuing education (3.9 ± 0.8).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The evidence-based results suggested that nurses have insufficient knowledge about chemotherapy. More fundamentally, however, nurses need more education about chemotherapy in nursing school and through in-hospital continuing education.
authors.forename: Hui-Yun
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: Shu
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: I-Ju
authors.initials: IJ
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Kai-Wei K
authors.initials: KW
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Fu-In
authors.initials: FI
authors.lastname: Tang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D020380:Needs Assessment; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000451:nursing; D009741:Nursing Staff, Hospital / Q000193:education*; D009859:Oncology Nursing; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult