Research Article: Occupational exposure risk assessment for cytotoxic drugs among clinical nurses in oncology care settings: development of a Delphi-AHP indicator system
Abstract:
To develop a scientific and systematic occupational exposure risk indicator system for cytotoxic drugs (CDs) among clinical nurses and to provide an evidence-based basis for institutional risk management and targeted occupational protection strategies.
This methodological study used a mixed-methods consensus-building design. Based on the work breakdown structure-risk breakdown structure (WBS-RBS) framework, an initial risk matrix was constructed through literature analysis, policy and guideline review, and semi-structured interviews. Three rounds of Delphi consultation were conducted with 16 experts in oncology nursing, nursing management, pharmacy, and occupational protection/infection control. Indicators were screened using a 5-point Likert scale, and weights were determined using the analytic hierarchy process (AHP).
The response rates for the three Delphi rounds were 80.00%, 93.75%, and 100.00%, respectively. The expert authority coefficients were 0.803, 0.856, and 0.891. In the third round, the coefficient of variation ranged from 0.000 to 0.264, and Kendall’s coefficient of concordance was 0.265 (P<0.01). The final indicator system included five first-level indicators, 13 second-level indicators, and 33 third-level indicators. All AHP judgment matrices met the consistency requirement (CR<0.10).
The indicator system developed in this study integrates full-process clinical work links with multidimensional risk sources, providing a structured and quantifiable framework for early identification, prioritization, and targeted management of occupational exposure risks related to cytotoxic drugs among clinical nurses. It may serve as a practical decision-support reference for developing graded and precise occupational protection strategies, particularly in institutions without centralized intravenous admixture services.
Introduction:
The global incidence of malignant tumors continues to rise. According to the latest global cancer statistics published in CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians, more than 20 million new cancer cases occurred worldwide in 2022 ( 1 ). Chemotherapy remains a core treatment modality, and cytotoxic drugs (CDs) are widely used because of their antitumor effects. However, their inherent genotoxic, teratogenic, and carcinogenic properties may pose serious occupational health threats to clinical nurses who handle these drugs…
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