Abstract CN31
Background
Research provides clear evidence of acute and chronic health effects from occupational exposure to hazardous antineoplastic drugs. Despite this, data collected by the European Oncology Nursing Society (EONS) highlights several concerns related to both patient and occupational safety. Collected data indicate that these risks are often overlooked or not even identified. One of the most important concerns is that a large proportion of European cancer nurses have no or very limited education in handling hazardous cancer drugs. Research also shows that education improve knowledge and impacts upon safety in cancer care.
Methods
EONS have developed a free of charge, online education program on patient and occupational safety, designed by and for cancer nurses across Europe, at all stages of their career. This ongoing program is based on EONS safety manifesto and Cancer nursing education framework and are organized as four two-hour webinars. Each webinar includes lectures by leading experts, discussions and reflections from cancer nurses across Europe. Sub-titles in different languages are provided. Registered participants will have access to education content for six months after each live session. Literature is provided (regulatory documents, guidelines, research) for each webinar. The webinars will be followed by an online test, based on both the webinars and provided literature, for nurses requesting a certificate with recommended credits. The webinars are funded by EONS and without any involvement from any commercial parties.
Results
The interest for the education program has been great, 326 nurses registered for the first webinar. During this presentation, demographic data and data on confidence levels related to each topic, before and after the webinars will be presented together with quotes from attending nurses. The main content in the education program will be presented and discussed.
Conclusions
High quality and accessible education on patient and occupational safety for nurses is needed and now provided by EONS.
Clinical trial identification
Editorial acknowledgement
Legal entity responsible for the study
The authors.
Funding
Has not received any funding.
Disclosure
All authors have declared no conflicts of interest.