Accuracy improvement of handling antineoplastic products for clinical trial nurses in a Taiwan Medical Center

37^th Asia-Pacific Nursing and Medicare Summit

OCTOBER 20-21, 2017 OSAKA, JAPAN

Yu-Shang Chen

Taipei Veteran General Hospital, Taiwan

Posters & Accepted Abstracts: Adv Practice Nurs

Abstract :

An increasing trend of investigational new antineoplastic drugs has increased the occupational exposure among the clinical trial health workers. Most antineoplastic drugs are hazardous drugs. As a Clinical Trial Nurse (CTN), managing research products is one of the important tasks to assess the research subjects� compliance. Therefore, this project aimed to improve the accuracy of process in handling antineoplastic products to decrease the exposure rate and to facilitate positive clinical research practice environments. The project population primarily included members of clinical trial unit in a medical center representing clinical trial nursing which routinely manage investigational antineoplastic drugs in outpatient department. With observing and questionnaire investigation, there were 35 CTNs and each of them managed one to five oral antineoplastic drug trials. There were 66.7% of the respondents indicated that they had handled product without any personal protective equipment (PPE). Analyzing the causes of potentially exposed to hazardous drugs were incorrect recognition of hazardous drugs, lack of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), lack of standard process and auditing system. After implementing the interventions included series of technical, educational and administrative support measures consisting of preparing PPE in out-patient clinics, holding education, establishing a standard of process for handling antineoplastic drugs and an auditing system, the exposure rate was 0% and the accuracy of administrate process improve from 16% to 92%. The project improved the safe practices of CTNs in handling antineoplastic drugs. In order to promote the positive practice environment and maintain occupational hygiene, keep managing auditing system is necessary.

Biography :

Yu-Shang Chen is an experienced Registered Nurse for 16 years. She is a student of Master�s degree in School of Nursing, College of Medicine, National Taiwan University, majored in Clinical Research Nursing.