Cytotoxic medications are used to treat cancer all around the world. These medications are often made specifically for each patient and are given as bolus injections or infusions. The cytotoxic drugs are classified as hazardous drugs by Occupational Safety and Health Association (OSHA). Nurses dealing with cytotoxic drugs have potential risk of occupational health hazards as these drugs are potentially carcinogenic, mutagenic, or teratogenic by nature. Staff nurses’ occupational health risks are decreased when organized educational programs are used to improve awareness and comprehension of safety procedures for handling cytotoxic medications. The study employed a quasi-experimental, non-randomized control group design and a quantitative research methodology. The Patel Hospital in Jalandhar, Punjab, served as the study’s site. A total of 60 samples were selected using a non-probability purposive sampling technique (30 in the experimental group and 30 in the control group). A self-structured knowledge questionnaire was used to assess staff nurses’ comprehension of safety measures for handling cytotoxic drugs. A structured instruction program was then administered on the same day as the pretest, and a post-test assessment was carried out on the third day. The data was then gathered for analysis using descriptive and inferential statistics. According to the results, the experimental group’s mean difference between their pre- and post-test knowledge levels was 10.57, whereas the control groups were just 0.50. Between the experimental and control groups’ post-tests, the computed “t” value is 9.30, which is statistically significant at the <0.001 level. As a result, staff nurses’ mean post-test knowledge scores on safety precautions for handling cytotoxic medications significantly increased. The study found that staff nurses’ understanding of safe handling practices for cytotoxic medications was enhanced by a structured instruction program.

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1. Kaur R. Knowledge about Safety Measures regarding Handling of Chemotherapeutic Agents among Staff Nurses in a Tertiary Care Teaching Hospital. Current Trends Deign Treat. 2017; 1(2):76–79.
2. Epidemiology of cancer in 2020 as per world health organization.
3. Cancer Society of Finland 2014.
4. Safe Handling of Hazardous Chemotherapy Drugs in Limited-Resource Settings. Washington, DC, PAHO, 2013.
5. Arul P. A Study to assess the Effectiveness of Structured Teaching Program for Nurses Administering Intravenous Chemotherapy, In PSG Hospital, Coimbatore. PSG College of Nursing Coimbatore
6. Hosen MS, Hasan M, Saiful Islam M, Raseduzzaman MM, Tanvirul Islam M, Tazbiul Islam M, et al. Evaluation of knowledge and practice of handling chemotherapy agents by nurses: A multi-centre studies in Bangladesh. Int J Comm Med Public Health. 2019 Oct;6(10):4175.
7. Habiba AI, Eldin YK, Ibrahem EM. Oncology nurses’ knowledge andpractices regarding handling hazardous drugs: Developing procedure manual for safe handling of hazardous drugs. Drugs. 2018;16:17.
8. HA Z, SM S, RM ES, WM S. Knowledge, attitudes and practices of safe handling of cytotoxic drugs among oncology nurses in tanta university hospitals. Egypt J Occup Med. 2019 Jan 1;43(1):75–92.
9. A guideline of National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 2004.
10. Safe Handling of Hazardous Chemotherapy Drugs in Limited-Resource Settings. Washington, DC: PAHO; 2013.
11. Falck K, Gröhn P, Sorsa M, Vainio H, Heinonen E, Holsti LR. Mutagenicity in urine of nurses handling cytostatic drugs. Lancet. 1979 Jun 9;1(8128):1250–1. doi: 10.1016/s0140-6736(79)91939-1. PMID: 87722.
12. Williams R D. Extreme Healing for Warriors. Association between exposure to antineoplastic drugs and adverse reproductive effects in female health care workers; 2020.

Cytotoxic medications are used to treat cancer all around the world. These medications are often made specifically for each patient and are given as bolus injections or infusions. The cytotoxic drugs are classified as hazardous drugs by Occupational Safety and Health Association (OSHA). Nurses dealing with cytotoxic drugs have potential risk of occupational health hazards as these drugs are potentially carcinogenic, mutagenic, or teratogenic by nature. Staff nurses’ occupational health risks are decreased when organized educational programs are used to improve awareness and comprehension of safety procedures for handling cytotoxic medications. The study employed a quasi-experimental, non-randomized control group design and a quantitative research methodology. The Patel Hospital in Jalandhar, Punjab, served as the study’s site. A total of 60 samples were selected using a non-probability purposive sampling technique (30 in the experimental group and 30 in the control group). A self-structured knowledge questionnaire was used to assess staff nurses’ comprehension of safety measures for handling cytotoxic drugs. A structured instruction program was then administered on the same day as the pretest, and a post-test assessment was carried out on the third day. The data was then gathered for analysis using descriptive and inferential statistics. According to the results, the experimental group’s mean difference between their pre- and post-test knowledge levels was 10.57, whereas the control groups were just 0.50. Between the experimental and control groups’ post-tests, the computed “t” value is 9.30, which is statistically significant at the <0.001 level. As a result, staff nurses’ mean post-test knowledge scores on safety precautions for handling cytotoxic medications significantly increased. The study found that staff nurses’ understanding of safe handling practices for cytotoxic medications was enhanced by a structured instruction program.

🔒 This is a subscription article

Full text is available to subscribers and institutional members. Please choose an option below to access it.

1. Kaur R. Knowledge about Safety Measures regarding Handling of Chemotherapeutic Agents among Staff Nurses in a Tertiary Care Teaching Hospital. Current Trends Deign Treat. 2017; 1(2):76–79.
2. Epidemiology of cancer in 2020 as per world health organization.
3. Cancer Society of Finland 2014.
4. Safe Handling of Hazardous Chemotherapy Drugs in Limited-Resource Settings. Washington, DC, PAHO, 2013.
5. Arul P. A Study to assess the Effectiveness of Structured Teaching Program for Nurses Administering Intravenous Chemotherapy, In PSG Hospital, Coimbatore. PSG College of Nursing Coimbatore
6. Hosen MS, Hasan M, Saiful Islam M, Raseduzzaman MM, Tanvirul Islam M, Tazbiul Islam M, et al. Evaluation of knowledge and practice of handling chemotherapy agents by nurses: A multi-centre studies in Bangladesh. Int J Comm Med Public Health. 2019 Oct;6(10):4175.
7. Habiba AI, Eldin YK, Ibrahem EM. Oncology nurses’ knowledge andpractices regarding handling hazardous drugs: Developing procedure manual for safe handling of hazardous drugs. Drugs. 2018;16:17.
8. HA Z, SM S, RM ES, WM S. Knowledge, attitudes and practices of safe handling of cytotoxic drugs among oncology nurses in tanta university hospitals. Egypt J Occup Med. 2019 Jan 1;43(1):75–92.
9. A guideline of National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 2004.
10. Safe Handling of Hazardous Chemotherapy Drugs in Limited-Resource Settings. Washington, DC: PAHO; 2013.
11. Falck K, Gröhn P, Sorsa M, Vainio H, Heinonen E, Holsti LR. Mutagenicity in urine of nurses handling cytostatic drugs. Lancet. 1979 Jun 9;1(8128):1250–1. doi: 10.1016/s0140-6736(79)91939-1. PMID: 87722.
12. Williams R D. Extreme Healing for Warriors. Association between exposure to antineoplastic drugs and adverse reproductive effects in female health care workers; 2020.