Nurse Compliance with the Use of Personal Protective Equipment While Handling Chemotherapy: A Multicenter Cross-Sectional Study in Palestine

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to assess the level of compliance among oncology nurses with personal protective equipment while handling chemotherapy and determine factors hindering its use. Design: A cross-sectional study with a quantitative descriptive approach. Method: 100 oncology nurses from six Palestinian hospitals participated in this study (68.5% response rate). Nurses involved in chemotherapy handling and working in cancer departments were purposively selected to complete a paperbased questionnaire. A bivariate correlation analysis was conducted. Sample size was determined based on the practical limitations of time and resources rather than a formal calculation. Study variables: The primary independent variables in this study include knowledge about chemotherapy exposure, perceived risk of harm from exposure, self-efficacy in using personal protective equipment, barriers to personal protective equipment use, workplace safety climate, interpersonal influences, and perceived conflict of interest. The dependent variable is compliance with the use of personal protective equipment. Results: Nurses were experienced in oncology, well-educated, received training on the use of personal protective equipment, and, on average, treated 1-5 patients per day. Knowledge on chemotherapy exposure was low (Mean = 6.77, Standard Deviation ± 1.87); as was self-efficacy (13.22 ± 3.32). Perceived barriers to using personal protective equipment were moderate (29.93 ± 9.00); as was workplace safety climate (54.11 ± 11.43). Total precaution use during chemotherapy administration was moderate (2.3 ± 0.67). Nurse characteristics did not predict personal protective equipment use. Conclusions: This study demonstrated that Palestinian oncology nurses exhibited a moderate level of compliance with the use of personal protective equipment. Compliance with personal protective equipment was highest during chemotherapy administration and lowest during disposal activities. Further research is necessary to comprehend the impact of nurses' beliefs and attitudes on compliance levels. Additionally, future studies should consider other healthcare providers inadvertently exposed to chemotherapy.