Effectiveness of an Educational Intervention to Improve Safe Handling of Chemotherapeutic Drugs Among Healthcare Workers in Vietnam

PURPOSE To ensure the safety of patients and healthcare workers (HCWs), guidelines for the safe handling of hazardous drugs, such as chemotherapy agents, and the provision of personal protective equipment (PPE) are critical. These guidelines and PPE are only effective if they are followed. In developing countries, models to improve PPE compliance to reduce HCWs occupational exposure are required. This pilot aims to evaluate PPE compliance following an educational program in four hospitals caring for children with cancer in Vietnam. METHODS Healthcare workers classified as doctors, nurses, pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, and ancillary staff from pediatric hematology oncology and pharmacy departments from four hospitals undertook a 90-minute educational program. The educational intervention included a video on the management of hazardous drug spills and slides presentation on principles of safe hazardous drugs handling facilitated by trainers at each facility. Compliance was monitored monthly for 3 months following the intervention. Participants completed pre- and post- intervention online anonymous knowledge questionnaire. T and χ2-tests are used for statistical analyses. RESULTS We conducted a total of 2894 direct observations for PPE compliance, including 1,129 pre-intervention and 1765 post-intervention. PPE compliance increased significantly from baseline 44% to 79%; P < 0.001. Compliance improved on all indications and professional categories following the introduction of the educational intervention. Greatest significant improvements were seen with disposal or cleaning (62 vs 7%; P < 0.001), administration (59 vs 25%; P < 0.001), and physician group (58 vs 9%; P < 0.001), respectively. There was significant increase in mean total knowledge score post-intervention (17.7 ±2.1) than pre-intervention (15.5 ±3.4) (p < 0.00001). CONCLUSION A simple educational model was implemented in four Vietnamese hospitals that revealed good PPE compliance. Safe handling knowledge of chemotherapeutic drugs increased during the intervention. This PPE compliance model could be used in developing countries where resources are limited.