Widespread use of chemotherapy in the treatment of cancer has lead to higher health
hazards among nurses who handle and administer such drugs, so they should know how to
protect themselves from effects of chemotherapy. Objective of study was to ass
ess
knowledge and practices of nurses for safe handling chemotherapy in latakia City.
the data was collected by using questionnaire including demographic information
and safe handling chemotherapy knowledge and practices and barriers of personal
protective equipment . Results of this study showed there more than two to third of nurses
had no knowledge that chemotherapy enter the body through contaminated foods, about
practices of them more than three quarter didn't change of personnel protective barriers
after contact with chemotherapy. also Results showed there a significant negative
association between knowledge and practices. Moreover, It is showed there a significant
negative association between practices and barriers .Most of the study sample had
moderate level of knowledge and practices of safe handling chemotherapy. So it is
necessary that Chemotherapy Safety health education program should be instituted for all
oncology nurses who are working in oncology unit.
