title: Oncology nurses' perspectives on safe handling precautions: a qualitative study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Oncology nurses can be exposed to hazardous drugs during their preparation, administration, transfer and storage and elimination of their waste.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This study was directed towards describing attitudes, opinions and experiences of nurses administering these drugs about safe handling precautions.
  
  
  METHODS
  A qualitative study design was used. Fifteen nurses working for at least three months involved in preparation, administration and transfer of antineoplastic drugs and management of wastes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Experiences, viewpoints and attitudes of nurses about safe handling precautions were analyzed in accordance with basic components of Health Belief Model.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Based on experiences, viewpoints and attitudes emphasized most by nurses, the most important factors about safe handling precautions were perceived barriers and cues to action. As well as heavy work schedules and high number of patients per nurse, lack of equipment and insufficient knowledge were found to be barriers to taking safe handling precautions.
authors.affiliation: a Public Health Nursing , Ege University , Izmir , Turkey.
authors.forename: Sevcan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Topçu
authors.affiliation: b Public Health Nursing, School of Nursing , Koc University, Istanbul , Turkey.
authors.forename: Ayşe
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Beşer
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D019983:Guideline Adherence; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009740:Nursing Staff / Q000523:psychology; D016272:Occupational Health; D009859:Oncology Nursing; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D036301:Qualitative Research; D018505:Waste Management
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents
keywords: antineoplastic agents; nursing; occupational exposure; qualitative research