The knowledge and awareness level of healthcare workers' towards cytotoxic drugs exposure

The study is about level of knowledge and awareness among health care workers in Hospital Seberang Jaya (HSJ). As we know, the health care workers who involve in Cytotoxic Drug Reconstitution (CDR) unit may have a risk to be mutagenic, teratogenic, and carcinogenic. The risks of exposure to cytotoxic drugs (CDs) are possible to occur during the handling, preparation, administration and disposal of these substances. Nurses and pharmacists are the main groups that are exposed to these drugs. Apart from that, doctor also one of the groups that have a possibility exposed to CDs. The respondents for this research collected from oncology ward (ward 4) and Day Care unit. This study was conduct by using questionnaire that emphasiz.ed in the experience in CDR, information about risk and control measures, training about CDs, hand washing, and personal protective equipment (PPE). All of these are our study focus. From the results that we have analyzed, the level of knowledge of the respondents about risks of CDs was satisfactory, and the control measure applied in HSJ also satisfactory but half from the total of respondents didn't receive training since they have been working in HSJ. In service training is a very effective tool to increase the level of knowledge.