Perception of risk of exposure in the management of hazardous drugs in home hospitalization and hospital units

Abstract

Objective To assess the perception of risk of exposure in the management of hazardous drugs (HDs) through home hospitalization and hospital units. Material and methods A questionnaire was released, at the national level, to health professionals with HD management expertise. Questionnaire included 21 questions that were scored using a Likert scale: 0 (null probability) to 4 (very high probability). The internal consistency and reliability of the questionnaire were calculated using Cronbach’s alpha and the intraclass correlation coefficient, respectively. Results 144 questionnaires (response rate 70.2%) were obtained: 65 (45.1%) were nurses, 42 (28.9%) occupational physicians, and 37 (26.1%) were pharmacists. Cronbach’s alpha was 0.93, and intraclass correlation coefficient was 0.94 (95% CI 0.91–0.97; p-value < 0.001). The mean probability was 1.95 ± 1.02 (median 1.9; minimum: 0.05; 1st quartile 1.1; 3rd quartile 2.6; and maximum 4). Differences were observed in scoring among professional groups (occupational physicians versus nurses (1.6/2.1, p = 0.044); pharmacists versus nurses (1.7/2.1, p = 0.05); and occupational physicians versus pharmacists (1.6/1.7, p = 0.785), due mainly to the administration stage (p = 0.015). Conclusions The perception of risk of exposure was moderate, being higher for nurses. It would be advisable to integrate HDs into a standardized management system (risk management model applicable to any healthcare center) to improve the safety of health professionals.

Computer programs used in the field of hospital pharmacy for the management of dangerous drugs: systematic review of literature

“…Health workers are exposed to the toxic effects of these HDs while preparing or administering chemotherapy ( 9 ). There are no equal measures for their protection or for the protection of patients, since the latter assume their risk of exposure to HDs to cure their disease, while it is not necessary for workers to assume that risk.…”

“…Risk assessment plays a key role in the management and control of the PM process, since all measures that are adopted to guarantee the safety of the process are based on its results. A recent study on the perceived risk of exposure in the management of HDs in hospital units ( 9 ) recommended integrating HDs into a standardized management system to improve the safety of drugs; this type of risk management model is applicable to any health center.…”

Medicamentos peligrosos: resumen normativo

“…Hosp Domic. 2024;8(1): [29][30][31][32][33][34][35][36] Artículos especiales: Bernabeu-Martínez Ante esta circunstancia, el criterio de prudencia aconseja seguir el principio denominado ALARA (As Low As Reasonably Achievable) en lo que a exposición a este tipo de medicamentos se refiere y su objetivo es minimizar, en lo posible, la probabilidad de que se produzcan tales efectos (29) .…”

“…Hosp Domic. 2024;8(1): [29][30][31][32][33][34][35][36] Medicamentos peligrosos: resumen normativo Pendiente queda, con fecha límite establecida a más a tardar 5 de abril de 2025, el establecimiento por parte de la Comisión Europea de una definición propia de MP y la elaboración de una lista a nivel europeo de MP.…”

Exposure to Antineoplastic Drugs in Occupational Settings: A Systematic Review of Biological Monitoring Data

“…In the last four decades, several studies have reported detectable and/or quantifiable concentrations of such hazardous drugs both in workplaces and in biological matrices of engaged employees despite the development of suitable strategies to assess risks for healthcare workers and the adoption of preventive and protective measures [ 20 , 21 , 22 , 23 , 24 ]. However, the current lack of globally harmonized standards for the prevention of AD exposure makes such an ever-worrisome problem far from being solved and a still present occupational health priority [ 13 , 25 ].…”