Abstract 14: Barriers to Effective Safe Handling of Chemotherapeutic Drugs Among Healthcare Workers in Vietnam: Needs Assessment by Electronic Survey

Abstract

Abstract Purpose: To identify barriers and facilitators of effective safe handling of chemotherapeutic drugs among healthcare workers in hospitals across Vietnam. Methods: We used Qualtrics to design a 45-question structured questionnaire in English and Vietnamese survey to assess the safe handling of chemotherapeutic drugs. This questionnaire was distributed as an anonymous online survey through the e-mail listserv of the Vietnam Pediatric Oncology Association in August 2022. Survey instruments included years of practice, types of prior training, knowledge, personal practice, and organizational factors. Respondents were asked whether they used specific personal protective equipment (PPE) in the steps of preparation, administration, and disposal of chemotherapeutic drugs. Results: The survey was distributed to 310 healthcare workers at 14 children’s hospitals. Sixty-two healthcare workers from 13 hospitals completed the survey (response rate 20%). Among those who completed the survey, diverse occupations were represented (39 nurses, 21 physicians, and 2 pharmacists). Forty-six had received prior training in the safe handling of chemotherapeutic drugs, and 25 had longer than ten years of practice. Forty-two workers reported involvement in the administration of chemotherapy, and 17 reported wearing chemotherapy gloves (compliant group) while 25 wore other types of gloves or no gloves at all (non-compliant group). Thirty-six workers (86%) reported the availability of chemotherapy gloves, and 38 (90%) were aware that not all gloves provide the same level of protection. In the compliant group, 71% (n = 12) were aware of institutional policies at their workplaces, while only 36% of the non-compliant group (n = 9) reported awareness of the institutional policies. When stratified according to the availability of institutional policy, long years of practice were more common in the compliant group. Conclusion: Overall, respondents reported having supplies of gloves and knowledge of glove use. Those who used chemotherapy gloves were generally aware of institutional policies and had longer years of practice. The next step will involve reviewing institutional policy at each institution and studying how long years of practice influence the practice of safe handling. Citation Format: Cham Nguyen, Linda Abramovitz, Kim Lien Nguyen, Bao Truong, Michelle Hermiston. Barriers to Effective Safe Handling of Chemotherapeutic Drugs Among Healthcare Workers in Vietnam: Needs Assessment by Electronic Survey [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 11th Annual Symposium on Global Cancer Research; Closing the Research-to-Implementation Gap; 2023 Apr 4-6. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2023;32(6_Suppl):Abstract nr 14.