2İzmir Katip Çelebi Üniversitesi, Sağlık Bilimleri Fakültesi, İzmir
3Ege Üniversitesi Hemşirelik Fakültesi, İç Hastalıkları Hemşireliği Anabilim Dalı, İzmir
4Celal Bayar Üniversitesi, Manisa Sağlık Yüksekokulu, Manisa OBJECTIVES
This study aimed to examine the level of knowledge and practices of nurses responsible for the execution and management of cancer treatment in patients receiving biotherapy as related to the use of biological agents.
METHODS
This descriptive study was conducted with 40 nurses in oncology
and hematology units of a university Medical Faculty
hospital in which biological agents are frequently applied.
RESULTS
The majority of nurses (57.5%) were aged 23-27 years. It was
determined that 35.5% of nurses obtained a patient history
and 82.5% queried the allergic history of patients before biotherapy.
According to the nurses' responses, 79.5% monitored
the patients in terms of development of local complications,
85% informed the patients about complications, and 77.5%
informed them about delayed infusion reactions.
CONCLUSION
Although the majority of nurses had not received a specific
education about biotherapy, they were knowledgeable as related
to the storage, preparation and administration of biological
agents.