Knowledge and Practices on the Safe Handling of Cytotoxic Drugs Among Oncology Nurses Working at Tertiary Teaching Hospitals in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Figures & data

Table 1 Sociodemographic Characteristics and Work Experiences Among Oncology Nurses at Tertiary Teaching Hospitals in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Variable	Frequency (N)	Percentage (%)
Sex
Male	23	29.9
Female	54	70.1
Age in years
22 to 29	49	63.6
30 to 39	23	29.9
40 to 50	5	6.5
Marital status
Married	39	50.6
Single	38	49.4
Educational achievement
Diploma	2	2.6
Bachelor’s Degree	68	88.3
Master’s Degree	7	9.1
Place of work
Medical ward	20	26
Oncology ward	19	24.7
Oncology outpatient department	16	20.8
Hematology department	22	28.5
Work experience (in years)
1 to 3	27	35.0
≥ 4	50	65.0
Had training on chemotherapy
Yes	26	31.2
No	51	68.8

Table 2 Availability and Utilization of PPE* Among Oncology Nurses at Tertiary Teaching Hospitals in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Variable	Always	Sometimes	Never
	N (%)	N (%)	N (%)
Availability of Glove	56 (72.7)	21 (27.3)	–
Availability of N-95 Mask	32 (41.4)	30 (39.0)	15 (19.5)
Availability of Goggles	15 (19.5)	37 (48.0)	25 (32.5)
Availability of Apron	27 (35.0)	34 (44.2)	16 (20.8)
Availability of Head cover	10 (13.0)	23 (29.9)	44 (57. 1)
Availability of Shoe cover	–	4 (5.2)	73 (94.8)
Use of Glove	56 (72.7)	21 (27.3)
Use of N-95 Mask	36 (46.7)	28 (36.4)	13 (16.9)
Use of Goggles	13 (16.9)	38 (49.3)	26 (33.8)
Use of Apron	28 (36.4)	37 (48.0)	12 (15.6)
Use of Head cover	16 (20.8)	25 (32.5)	36 (46.8)
Use of Shoe cover	–	5 (6.5)	72 (93.5)
Use of Biological Safety Cabinet (BSC)	42 (54.5)	21 (27.3)	14 (18,2)

Note: N stands for frequency and % is the percentage.

Abbreviation: *Personal protective equipment.

Table 3 Safe Handling Practices of CD* Among Oncology Nurses at Tertiary Teaching Hospitals in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Variable	Always	Sometimes	Never
	N (%)	N (%)	N (%)
Nurses wear protective clothing’s during exposure to CDs	43 (55.8)	31 (40.3)	3 (3.9)
Nurses take safety precautions during handling CDs	40 (51.9)	31 (40.3)	6 (7.8)
Nurses prepare CDs in vertical safety cabinet	42 (54.5)	21 (27.3)	14 (18.2)
Nurses wear protective clothes while changing IV fluids’ containing CDs	19 (24.6)	34 (44.2)	24 (31.2)
Nurses use needles as venting devices in IV bottle	23 (29.8)	27 (35.1)	27 (35.1)
Nurses use disposable syringe with Luer-lock to prepare and administer CDs	8 (10.4)	14 (18.2)	55 (71.4)
Nurses teach patient/visitors about the safe handling of body wastage of patient’s receiving CDs	32 (41.6)	39 (50.6)	6 (7.8)
Nurses dispose contaminated needles in puncture proof container	47 (61.0)	19 (24.7)	11 (14.3)
Nurses guide ward attendants in taking safety precaution while collecting hazardous wastes of CDs	32 (41.6)	29 (37.7)	16 (20.7)
Nurses store hazardous CDs in a covered container	23 (29.9)	26 (33.8)	28 (36.3)
Persons collecting hazardous wastes take precautions while transferring wastes from ward to incineration	27 (35.1)	33 (42.9)	17 (22.1)
Nurses prepare CDs in nursing station	13 (16.9)	9 (11.7)	55 (71.4)
Nurses prepare CDs at patient’s bedside	8 (10.3)	13 (16.9)	56 (72.7)
Nurses drink coffee at CDs’ preparation area	2 (2.6)	6 (7.8)	69 (89.6)
Nurses expel air from syringes’ containing CDs in an open area	17 (22.1)	18 (23.4)	42 (54.5)
Nurses transfer prepared CDs from one place to another with bare-hand	8 (10.4)	17 (22.1)	52 (67.5)
Nurses wipe out small spills on the skin with tissue paper immediately	20 (26.0)	33 (42.9)	24 (31.2)
Nurses use a damp cloth for managing spillage of powder from CDs	8 (10.4)	33 (42.9)	36 (46.7)
Nurses store hazardous drug’s wastes together with other wastes	23 (29.9)	19 (24.7)	35 (45.4)
Hazardous wastes of CDs are disposed of through incineration	8 (10.4)	18 (23.4)	51 (66.2)

Notes: *Cytotoxic drug; N stands for frequency and % for percentage.

Table 4 Multiple Linear Regression Analysis Predicting Knowledge of CD* Handling Among Oncology Nurses at Tertiary Teaching Hospitals in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Variable	Beta (Stand’)	P-value	Confidence Interval		Collinearity Statistics
			Lower	Upper	Tolerance	VIF@
Gender (F)	0.035	0.754	−0.911	1.252	0.855	1.170
Education (Diploma)	0.142	0.180	−0.934	4.885	0.977	1.023
Education (MSc)	0.153	0.171	−0.520	2.871	0.881	1.135
Marital (single)	−0.017	0.891	−1.145	0.997	0.730	1.370
Had training (no)	−0.096	0.422	−1.553	0.658	0.766	1.306
Heard about CDs (No)	−0.328	0.006	−2.909	−0.521	0.820	1.220
Age	0.011	0.949	−0.138	0.147	0.391	2.555
Work experience	−0.230	0.166	−0.292	0.051	0.397	2.517

Notes: Variable with bold is variable with a p-value less than 0.05 that has a significant association with the outcome variable. *Cytotoxic drug.

Abbreviation: @VIF, Variance inflation factor.

Table 5 Multiple Linear Regression Analysis Predicting the Practice of CD* Handling Among Oncology Nurses at Tertiary Teaching Hospitals in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Variable	Beta (Stand’)	P-value	Confidence Interval		Collinearity Statistics
			Lower	Upper	Tolerance	VIF@
Gender (F)	−0.178	0.129	−4.953	0.646	0.853	1.172
Education (Diploma)	−0.032	0.771	−8.745	6.515	0.951	1.051
Education (MSc)	0.102	0.383	−2.490	6.408	0.857	1.167
Marital (single)	−0.270	0.035	−5.759	−0.216	0.730	1.370
Had training (no)	−0.138	0.267	−4.486	1.262	0.759	1.318
Have heard about CDs (Yes)	−0.097	0.445	−4.531	2.010	0.731	1.367
Age	−0.274	0.115	−0.664	0.074	0.391	2.556
Work experience	0.155	0.372	−0.248	0.653	0.386	2.590
Knowledge	0.325	0.012	0.184	1.436	0.729	1.371

Notes: Variables with bold are variables with a p-value less than 0.05 that have a significant association with the outcome variable. *Cytotoxic drug.

Abbreviation: @VIF, Variance inflation factor.