Original Research Article
Year: 2019 | Month: September | Volume: 9 | Issue: 9 | Pages: 127-136
Assessment of Institutional Support on Healthcare Workers in Safe Handling of Cytotoxic Agents and Related Waste at Kenyatta National Hospital
Henry Kilemi Mitheu1, James Mwaura2, Lucy W. Kivuti-Bitok2
1School of Nursing Sciences, University of Nairobi, P.O Box 19676 – 00200, Nairobi, Kenya
2Senior Lecturer, School of Nursing Sciences, University of Nairobi, P.O Box 19676 – 00200, Nairobi, Kenya
Corresponding Author: Henry Kilemi Mitheu
ABSTRACT
Background: Healthcare workers are exposed to cytotoxic agents and waste in their day to day practice as they handle them. These agents are known to be carcinogenic, mutagenic and teratogenic. Institutions need to protect their workers from exposure to cytotoxic agents.
Objective: To assess the institutional support of healthcare workers in safe handling of cytotoxic agents and related waste at Kenyatta National Hospital.
Methodology: This was a descriptive cross-sectional using quantitative method. A questionnaire and an observation check list were used to collect data. The sample size was 162 respondents. Stratified simple random sampling was used to select the study participants. Data analysis was done using SPSS.
Results: Majority (77.3%) of the respondents were females. The mean age of the respondents was 35.9±9.98 years. Only 12% of the healthcare workers had a specialized oncology training. Fifty four percent of the respondents had no training on handling of the cytotoxic drugs and wastes. Majority, 52% of the respondents were not aware of existence of any policy document. There was reported stock outs of PPEs especially the shoe covers eye and face shields and hair covering. There was lack of spill kits as reported by 82% of the respondents.
Conclusion: There was lack of necessary support to healthcare workers in handling cytotoxics as shown by shortage and lack of appropriate personal protective equipment, lack of knowledge on the available policy at the operational level and most healthcare workers lacking specialized training in oncology.
Key words: Cytotoxics, safe handling, Chemotherapy spills, institutional support