RESEARCH PAPER Nurses’ protective measures during chemotherapy preparation and administration in Turkey* Selda Rizalar MSc Lecturer, Ondokuz Mayıs University, School of Health, Samsun, Turkey Esra Tural MSc Lecturer, Ondokuz Mayıs University, School of Health, Samsun, Turkey Birsen Altay PhD Assistant Professor, Ondokuz Mayıs University, School of Health, Samsun, Turkey Accepted for publication August 2011 Selda R, Tural E, Altay B. International Journal of Nursing Practice 2012; 18: 91–98 Nurses’ protective measures during chemotherapy preparation and administration in Turkey Chemotherapeutic agents are known to be carcinogenic, teratogenic and mutagenic to humans. Occupational exposure to chemotherapeutic agents is a potential risk. The aim of this study was to determine the safety measures on personal and environmental protection taken by nurses during chemotherapy preparation and administration. Current study was conducted between 1 April and 30 June 2007 in the chemotherapy administration units of all hospitals in Samsun, North of the Turkey. Seventy-three nurses were included in the study group. Data were obtained via questionnaire form. Findings for nurses’ safety behaviour and usage of recommended health safety measures showed that, notwithstanding the rules and regulations pertaining to chemotherapeutics, nurses did not comply with them fully. The study expanded that health providers and clinical environment are under threat for contamination of chemotherapeutics. The results clearly point the importance of need for regular education programme. This study also revealed the necessity for improvement of the working environment. Key words: chemotherapy, chemotherapy drugs, nurse, protective measures, safety. INTRODUCTION There were more than 11 million cancer cases diagnosed each year worldwide and expected to rise to 16 million by the year 2020. The rising patient number leads to an increase in the use of chemotherapy drugs (CDs) and so much more possibility of exposure of the health-care workers to these drugs. 1 Chemotherapy is a systemic treatment using drugs that can kill cancer cells as a curative or palliative. 2–4 Unfortu- nately, chemotherapeutic agents may also affect normal healthy cells. Frequent and close exposure to these drugs negatively affects the health of health-care personnel who handle these agents. 2,5–7 Personnel may be exposed to a drug in its manufacturing, transport, use and waste stages. The number of staff potentially exposed to hazardous Correspondence: Selda Rızalar, Ondokuz Mayıs University, School of Health, Surgical Nursing, Samsun 55070, Turkey. Email: srizalar@ omu.edu.tr *This study has been presented at Seventh National and Interna- tional Participation Nursing Students Congress 2008, Istanbul. International Journal of Nursing Practice 2012; 18: 91–98 doi:10.1111/j.1440-172X.2011.01996.x © 2012 Blackwell Publishing Asia Pty Ltd