Introduction
The work of nurses in oncology departments is characterized by not only professional challenges but also other nuances. In particular, adherence to safety measures when using chemotherapeutic drugs is the essential aspect of the activity, which is not always respected. The article “Nurse Adherence to Safe-Handling Practices: Observation Versus Self-Assessment” by Colvin, Karius, and Albert (2016) presents a study on this topic and examines the working conditions of nurses operating with dangerous medications. The purpose of this work is to determine whether a safe-handling practice regarding the rules of work with chemotherapeutic drugs is supported by the target group including the junior medical staff of the oncology department.
Research Question
Within the framework of this research, the authors study periodic errors made by nurses in the oncology department when working with chemotherapeutic drugs (Colvin et al., 2016). In particular, occupational exposure is considered a significant medical issue in such healthcare facilities. In this regard, the primary focus of the authors’ work is on the study of junior medical staff’s adherence to the rules of safe work with hazardous drugs (Colvin et al., 2016).
This topic is relevant because, as the data from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) show, the effect of even minor doses of chemotherapy on healthcare employees has not yet been studied comprehensively. Periodic cases of medical personnel’s exposure are the events that have caused the study of this issue. Therefore, adhering to safe-handling recommendations preventing exposure is considered the essential and significant aspect of nursing practice.
Research Design
The research design of this study needs to be considered in the context of the applied methodology, sample technique, and the features of data collection. According to the authors, a mixed-method design is used as a strategy for evaluating the findings and interpreting the outcomes (Colvin et al., 2016). The main strength of this technique is an opportunity to attract different types of data, including both conversations with research participants and results in the form of statistical information. Such a research design may have a potential weakness – the time period for all the procedures can be too fast, which may affect the quality of the findings.
However, in this work, the deadline for collecting all the necessary information is large, which does not affect the study’s outcomes adversely. The use of this design is possible due to the desire to receive not only a statistical report but also nurses’ personal opinion of the staff regarding the issue; therefore a mixed type is appropriate.
Sample Description
The research sample of the study does not imply exceptional criteria for participation in the study. As a target group, 33 nurses working in the oncology department are selected (Colvin et al., 2016). Such a size does not seem to be large enough since, in order to receive the most accurate and comprehensive picture of the current situation, more members may be required to compile statistical reports. The data of 33 specialists may be similar, and an increase in the number of research members could improve the accuracy of the results. Therefore, this indicator has some gaps, in particular, the lack of data for objectively adequate research.
Data Collection Method
The researchers collected data based on the aforementioned sample process. For their work, Colvin et al. (2016) applied two phases of obtaining valuable information – micro-ethnicity and micro-ethnography observations. Special criteria were identified for the preparation of comparative tables regarding the adherence to safe recommendations when working with chemotherapeutic drugs. In terms of ethical considerations, no rules and principles were violated. All the results were received confidentially, and the use of envelopes for anonymous surveys confirms this fact. There are no gaps in the data collection process since many components are included as evaluation criteria, and much information was obtained.
Limitations of the Study
One of the main limitations of the study is performing activities within a single medical setting. For instance, Weingart, Zhang, Sweeney, and Hassett (2018) consider the errors of working with chemotherapeutic drugs in different healthcare institutions, which allows obtaining more reliable information. Also, Colvin et al. (2016) involve a rather limited number of participants, which also reduces the likelihood of obtaining accurate outcomes. These limitations could be overcome in subsequent studies by engaging more members from different oncology departments. All these gaps are important to mention since they may help to eliminate potential errors in further research.
Key Findings
The results of the study demonstrate the findings regarding the adherence to safe-handling recommendations by nurses when working with hazardous drugs. According to the authors, smaller half of the participants follow safety rules, which is fraught with professional exposure and health problems for those who do not adhere to useful recommendations (Colvin et al., 2016). The results of the work answer the research question and may be used for further interventions aimed at eliminating this problem. The credibility of the findings is partial because a too narrow circle of participants is involved, and the research framework is not wide enough. However, the goal of the study is achieved, and the conclusions are presented in the form of statistical reports.
Summary
The study aimed at identifying the adherence of nurses to safe-handling recommendations concerning the use of chemotherapy drugs in the oncology department proves preliminary assumptions about insufficient attention to this issue. The findings correspond to the research question and allow discovering potential areas for intervention. Based on the results of the work done, further research may be conducted, despite the fact that the evidence is not strong enough due to the study’s limitations. Training nurses to work with hazardous drugs is a mandatory task in oncology departments.
References
Colvin, C. M., Karius, D., & Albert, N. M. (2016). Nurse adherence to safe-handling practices: Observation versus self-assessment. Clinical Journal of Oncology Nursing, 20(6), 617-622. Web.
Weingart, S. N., Zhang, L., Sweeney, M., & Hassett, M. (2018). Chemotherapy medication errors. The Lancet Oncology, 19(4), e191-e199. Web.