Antineoplastic Drugs-Knowledge, Attitude and Safe Handling practice of Nurses’ at Cancer Hospital

Abstract

Today cancer patients are diagnosed earlier than in the past, and many receive multiple courses of chemotherapy for a longer period of time. Many antineoplastic drugs are known to be carcinogenic, teratogenic and mutagenic to humans. Aim of the present study was to develop and find out the effectiveness of Nursing Educational Program on nurses knowledge, attitude and safe handling practices towards Antineoplastic drugs. Quantitative research approach and pre experimental with one group pretest post test research design was adopted for this study. A sample of 30 oncology staff nurses working in lion cancer department New Civil Hospital, Surat were selected by non-probability convenient sampling technique. Knowledge level was assessed by self-structured knowledge questionnaire, likert scale for attitude and practice level by observational checklist. The data was analyzed by using descriptive and inferential statistics. The results revealed that maximum subjects 69.93% were between age group 21–30 years, majority 83.25% were female, 56.61% staff nurses unmarried, about 59.94% had done GNM, 39.96% were having between 0–2 years of clinical experience. The mean posttest knowledge score was 25.26 higher than the mean pretest knowledge score 18.43 and mean posttest attitude and practice score was 58.3, 87.6 higher than the mean pretest attitude and practice score 41.5 and 77. There was positive relationship between knowledge and practice and knowledge and attitude of staff nurses regarding chemotherauptic drugs. Thus is proved that nursing educational intervention is effective for safe handling of antineoplastic drugs.