CN21 - Patient and occupational safety in Europe: A survey by the European Oncology Nursing Society

Background

Cancer nurses have a crucial role in safe administration, management and delivery of cancer care. Guidelines, education and access to Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) vary between countries and healthcare organizations. European Oncology Nursing Society’s (EONS) Advocacy working group, set a strategic goal to raise awareness on patient safety. To gain knowledge on both patient- and occupational safety from European cancer nurses, a survey was conducted.

Methods

EONS Advocacy working group developed a survey on occupational and patient safety. The semi-structured survey consists of two parts; one with 20 items on occupational safety (with the option of free-text comments) and one validated tool (Hospital Survey on patient safety (HSPS), not analyzed here). The survey (translated into 8 languages) was anonymous and handed out at various national cancer nursing conferences, at EONS cancer nursing conference 2019 and online via EONS webpage (from October 2019 and onwards). A database was developed by the Regional Cancer Centre in Stockholm-Gotland, Sweden, dedicated for this survey. Quantitative and qualitative analysis methods were used to present the preliminary data findings. The survey will be open until August 2020.

Results

To date 491 cancer nurses from 38 European countries have responded. Preliminary analysis indicates differences between countries and institutions. Guidelines on management and administration of cytotoxic drugs is frequently reported, but these guidelines are not fully implemented and often not followed due to “pressure at work”, “lack of training”, “lack of knowledge of health and safety risks” and “peer pressure”. Free-text responses highlight a number of safety related issues experienced by the nurses, and lack of support by organization and/or managers to follow and implement safe work processes.

Conclusions

Preliminary results indicate several challenges and areas for improvement in occupational and patient safety in Europe. Current practices and exposures suggest risk that is not acceptable. There is a need for a minimum standard practice regarding education and PPE on a European level and cancer nurses must be involved in the process.

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.