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Clinical Nursing Perspectives

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ArticleOpen Access http://dx.doi.org/10.26855/cnp.2025.12.004

Knowledge, Attitude, And Practice of Oncology Nurses Regarding Handling of Cytotoxic Drugs Tertiary Care Hospital, Islamabad

Ms Naseem Akhter1, Khairunnisa Aziz Dhamani2, Ms Rehana Elahi3, Muhammad Ishtiaq2,*

1Shifa International Hospital-Islamabad, Islamabad 44000, Pakistan.

2Shifa Tameer-e-Millat University, Islamabad H-8/4, Pakistan.

3Shaukat Khanum Memorial Hospital-Lahore, Lahore 54000, Pakistan.

*Corresponding author: Muhammad Ishtiaq

Published: December 26, 2025

Abstract

Purpose: This study aimed to evaluate oncology nurses’ knowledge, attitudes, and practices around handling CDs, as well as the relationship between these variables. Methods: This was an analytical cross-sectional study. A purposive sample of 64 nurses working in oncology units of Tertiary Care Hospital Islamabad, Pakistan was used. Three instruments were used to collect the data. Knowledge was as-sessed through self-administered questionnaires, a 5-point Likert scale was used to measure attitude, and an observational checklist was used to assess nurses’ practice of handling CDs. Results: The study found that 43.8% of nurses’ knowledge regarding cytotoxic drug handling was good, while 58% had good attitudes; however, their practices were poor (78%). Significant differences existed between nurses’ knowledge regarding gender and training received on handling CDs (P = 0.003, 0.035). A positive association existed between nurses’ attitudes and training received for handling CDs (P=0.03) and variables including work experience in oncology, training during undergraduate study, and chemotherapy administrations per day with p-values of 0.24, 0.27, and 0.28, respectively. Conclusion: Nurses’ knowledge and attitudes regarding CDs handling were good, but their practices were poor. Their favorable attitudes can be attributed to adequate knowledge. Consequently, it is imperative to implement monitoring to enhance compliance with nurses’ CDs handling practices.

Keyword

Cytotoxic Drugs; Oncology nurses; knowledge; attitude; practice

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How to cite this paper

Knowledge, Attitude, And Practice of Oncology Nurses Regarding Handling of Cytotoxic Drugs Tertiary Care Hospital, Islamabad

How to cite this paper: Ms Naseem Akhter, Khairunnisa Aziz Dhamani, Ms Rehana Elahi, Muhammad Ishtiaq. (2025). Knowledge, Attitude, And Practice of Oncology Nurses Regarding Handling of Cytotoxic Drugs Tertiary Care Hospital, Islamabad. Clinical Nursing Perspectives2(1), 24-34.

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.26855/cnp.2025.12.004