Volume 25 , Issue 1 , June 2023 , Pages 58-70
Barzan Hassan Hussain 1 ; Awayi Ghazy Abdulkareem 2
1 Hiwa Hematology/Oncology Hospital, Ministry of Health, Sulaimaniyah, Iraq
2 Department of Pediatric Nursing, College of Nursing, University of Sulaimani, Sulaimaniyah, Iraq
Background: Anti-neoplastic drugs (ANDs) are a medical therapy utilized to fight cancer.
Due to the possible health risks, safe handling and occupational exposure to anti-neoplastic
agents have become significant concerns for oncology nursing staff. Objective: To assess
the knowledge, attitude, and practice of nurses in handling ANDs at Hiwa
Hematology/Oncology Hospital in Sulaimaniyah, Iraq. Materials and methods: A
quantitative-descriptive cross-sectional design was carried out on 91 nurses working in
Hiwa Hematology/Oncology Hospital from March to June 2022. A questionnaire was
designed and constructed by the researcher. Results: The findings of this study showed
that the higher percentages level of nurses' knowledge, attitude, and practice was 39.6%,
49.5%, and 51.6%, respectively, which indicated that the majority of participants in that
hospital had a fair level of knowledge, attitude, and practice. A significant assertion was
found between nurses' level of knowledge, attitude, and practice toward handling ANDs
with age, employment status, years of experience in handling ANDs, receiving formal
training, number of working hours per week, and exposure to an ANDs side effect. In
addition, a highly significant association between nurses' level of knowledge, attitude, and
practice toward handling ANDs (p=0.000) were found. Conclusion: We concluded that
most of the sample had fair knowledge, attitude, and practice about handling ANDs, with
a highly significant association.