Assessing the Knowledge of a Nursing Staff about Occupational Risks when Administering Chemotherapy Drugs

Abstract

Antineoplastic drugs can trigger injuries to the occupational health of professionals working in hospitals. Continuous exposure to these drugs can cause from simple effects such as headache, vomiting, vertigo, dizziness, hair loss and skin hyperpigmentation, to the more complex and undesirable ones, such as carcinogenesis and teratogenic or mutagenic effects. These effects can be seen in workers who prepare or administer antineoplastic drugs in patients, without either collective or individual protection, which implies considerable absorption of such substances by health professionals. This study aimed to evaluate the knowledge of the nursing staff about occupational risks while administering chemotherapy drugs. This is a quantitative, cross-sectional study, and a questionnaire with objective questions was used. The sample comprised 27 professionals who compose the nursing staff of the outpatient’s facility of a public hospital in Brasilia-DF, from August to September 2009. It was observed that the nurses surveyed had partial knowledge about the risks to which they are exposed during the administration and disposal of chemotherapy drugs. It is necessary to invest in continuing education of such professionals as well as in more specific procedures to measure and verify occupational injuries.