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Safety in the Clinical Use of Cytotoxics

Safety In The Clinical Use of Cytotoxics aims to provide healthcare professionals with a basic understanding of the principles of chemotherapy and the health and safety aspects of the clinical use of cytotoxic agents.

The package covers many aspects of cytotoxic chemotherapy including methods of administration, safe handling of cytotoxic drugs and extravasation. Throughout the package, there is an emphasis on patient and practitioner safety.

In addition to the teaching material, the package contains a large amount of background information, including information and monographs for individual anti-cancer drugs and an emetogenicity chart.

This package also contains an Assessment module with MCQs.

Product Code: COP006

Price: £300.00 p.a. (per institution)

Safety In The Clinical Use Of Cytotoxics consists of the following activities:

  • Guide To Package
  • Foreword And Introduction
  • Principles Of Chemotherapy
  • Primary Anti-Cancer Drugs And Their Use
  • Methods Of Administration Of Cytotoxic Drugs
  • National Guidance On The Safe Administration Of Intrathecal Chemotherapy
  • Hydration Guidelines
  • Hazards Of Chemotherapy For Patients And Staff
  • Safe Handling And Disposal Of Cytotoxic Drugs
  • Problem Solving
  • Extravasation
  • Prescribing Chemotherapy And Dose Calculation
  • International Recommendations For The Safe Handling Of Cytotoxics

The package also contains an activity discussing the European Parliament’s set of recommendations “Preventing occupational exposure to cytotoxic and other hazardous drugs. European Policy Recommendations” (published in 2016). The activity covers many issues including the increasing use of cytotoxic drugs, health hazards associated with cytotoxic drugs, who is at risk of exposure, where and how exposure can occur, the International Society of Oncology Pharmacy Practitioners (ISOPP) hierarchical order of protection to exposure, and methods to prevent or reduce occupational exposure.

Following incidents in mis-administration of chemotherapy, this program was developed as a training aid for junior doctors. It has, however, been found useful as a training programme for many healthcare professionals including doctors, pharmacists, technicians and nurses working with cytotoxics. By working through the interactive modules a basic training is available designed to improve the practitioner’s skills.

Pre-requisites: Users should have a knowledge of biology and physiology.

Audience: Anybody involved in the patient admission and discharge process. Doctors, pharmacists, technicians and nurses working with cytotoxics

Time to complete: 2-4 hours

“We have used the ‘Safety in the Clinical Use of Cytotoxics’ package for many years now and find it particularly useful for our  pre-registration and band 6 pharmacists who are rotating through aseptics. The package helps give them a thorough grounding in this subject including safe-handling and side-effects caused by different cytotoxic drugs.  It complements their prior knowledge, filling any gaps of their understanding  in this area and better prepares staff for working within the Oncology Pharmacy speciality and Aseptics.  The recent addition of the end of package assessment questions are welcome.”

Juliet Morris
Principal Pharmacist Oncology,  Haematology & Clinical Trials
Bedford Hospital NHS Trust

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