Status and Strategies for Safety Management of Antineoplastic Drugs among Oncology Nurses

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify the work environment related to the handling and administration of antineoplastic drugs in the members of the Korean Oncology Nursing Society. Methods: The study was carried out from October 2018 to November 2018. The self-reported surveys included questions on the work environment, experience and concerns from occupational exposure, safe activities of antineoplastic drugs and use of personal protective equipment (PPE), hand hygiene, and type of PPE (e.g., gown, gloves, and mask). Results: A total of 125 participants from 41 organizations were surveyed. The nurses were mostly educated on safe management of antineoplastic drugs (95.2%) and concerned about health threats caused by occupational exposure (7.23± 2.14 out of 10). In addition, harmful activities were found, with gown use being the lowest when handling antineoplastic drugs. Conclusion: This study supports that appropriate staffing, equipment, and facilities, mandatory education, and establishment of policies are very important in creating a safe work environment for handling antineoplastic drugs.