KNOWLEDGE AND PRACTICE OF CHEMOTHERAPY ADMINISTRATION AMONG NURSES AT AMERICAN CANCER HOSPITAL IKEDURU

TOPIC: KNOWLEDGE AND PRACTICE OF CHEMOTHERAPY ADMINISTRATION AMONG NURSES AT AMERICAN CANCER HOSPITAL IKEDURU

THIS TOPIC IS ALSO SUITABLE FOR:
1.Department of  Nursing Science
2. Department of Public Health
3. Department of Community Health
4. Department of Health Education
This research material contains:
1-Chapter One to Five
2-Recent References/citations
3-Tables/Charts/Graphs in Chapter Four
4-Accurate Data Analysis
5-Table of Contents
6-Questionnare

ABSTRACT
This study was carried out to examine the knowledge and practice of chemotherapy administration among nurses at American Cancer Hospital, Ikeduru. The study was specifically carried out to assess the level of knowledge of chemotherapy administration among nurses at American Cancer Hospital, Ikeduru, examine the level of practice of chemotherapy administration among nurses at American Cancer Hospital, Ikeduru, identify the factors influencing the knowledge and practice of chemotherapy administration among nurses at American Cancer Hospital, Ikeduru and determine the relationship between nurses' knowledge of chemotherapy administration and their practice of chemotherapy administration at American Cancer Hospital, Ikeduru. The study employed the descriptive survey research design. The study population comprised 150 nurses at American Cancer Hospital, Ikeduru, while a sample size of 109 respondents was determined using the Taro Yamane formula. A validated sample size of 94 respondents was used for the final analysis. Multi-stage sampling technique involving stratified and convenience sampling methods was adopted for the selection of the respondents. Hence, the questionnaire was used for data collection, while the data collected were analyzed using frequency tables and percentages. From the responses obtained and analyzed, the findings revealed that nurses demonstrated a moderate level of knowledge of chemotherapy administration as 58.5% agreed that they had adequate knowledge of standard chemotherapy administration guidelines, while 54.2% disagreed that they lacked knowledge of safe chemotherapy drug handling procedures. The findings further showed that 57.5% of the respondents adhered to standard chemotherapy administration protocols, while 59.8% reported appropriate chemotherapy waste disposal practices, indicating a moderate level of practice. The study also revealed that 58.5% agreed that regular in-service training improved their knowledge and practice, while 60.6% agreed that continuous professional education enhanced both knowledge and practice of chemotherapy administration, demonstrating a positive relationship between knowledge and practice. The study therefore recommends that hospital management should organize regular in-service training on chemotherapy administration, ensure the availability of chemotherapy administration guidelines and personal protective equipment, and promote continuous professional education to enhance safe oncology nursing practice.
Keywords: Knowledge, Practice, Chemotherapy Administration, Nurses, Oncology Nursing.

CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION (Preview)
1.1 Background to the Study
Cancer is one of the major causes of morbidity and mortality in the world and the increasing incidence of cancer is increasingly burdening healthcare services and the management of cancer patients. The medical field has come a long way in developing the means to treat cancer, and today, treatment is more often than not based on evidence and multimodal approaches that can improve the condition. Wang et al. (2022) states that continuous improvements in oncology have been made that have improved treatment outcomes by combining surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, and also immunotherapy and targeted therapies. Abdus-Salam et al., (2022) emphasized that good cancer management is not only necessary to have treatment modalities, but it is also important to have competent healthcare professionals to provide healthcare. Likewise, Hamed et al. (2023) indicated that multidisciplinary collaboration has become an integral part of oncology practice as patients need coordinated medical, nursing, pharmaceutical and psychosocial care across the oncology care spectrum. Ahmed et al. (2026) also stated that providing quality oncology care requires healthcare workers to have up-to-date knowledge, technical skills, and professional responsibility in delivering proper care, ensuring a safe and effective treatment. Such advancements have further transformed the landscape of cancer treatment in healthcare systems and professional competence has become an essential part of cancer treatment practice.
With the complexity of oncology care has thus grown the role of the nurse, especially when it comes to chemotherapy, one of the most commonly used systemic treatments for malignant diseases. Chemotherapy: Chemotherapy is the treatment of cancer with drugs (cytotoxic or antineoplastic agents) designed to kill cancer cells, or limit their growth or ability to spread throughout the body. Gebre et al. (2022) stated that administering chemotherapy is a systematic process, which involves assessing the patient, ensuring proper treatment procedures, preparing for chemotherapy, giving the drugs, monitoring for adverse reactions, recording the process, and educating the patient. According to Iheanacho et al., (2022), the nurse plays a pivotal role during this process as they have close contact with patients before, during and after chemotherapy. Mohamed et al., (2023) said that giving drugs does not always involve only the technical aspect of drug administration but also the clinical observation and management of symptoms, communication with the patient, and compliance with institutional safety measures. Furthermore, Ali and Al-Hamadani (2025) highlighted the specialized nature of oncology nursing, which involves a deep grasp of pharmacology, infection prevention protocols, dosage calculations, venous access management, and response protocols in case of any emergencies during chemotherapy administration.
Chemotherapy administration is becoming an important facet of nursing as a professional skill and knowledge in cancer care. Knowledge is defined as the theoretical knowledge, cognitive awareness and evidence-based information needed for chemotherapy administration and practice is defined as the actual application of knowledge -- using clinical skills, professional judgement and adherence to treatment guidelines in patient care. Bibi et al., (2025) stated that nurses need up-to-date information on chemotherapy treatment guidelines, drug categories, dosage and toxicities, as well as safety precautions to effectively administer the chemotherapy. Oyuku and Nshakira (2025) noted that nursing practice involves the application of knowledge and theoretical understanding to the appropriate clinical action, which will enhance patient safety and effectiveness of treatment. Hamed et al. (2023) showed that Continuous Professional Education and institutional training play important roles in maintaining competence of nurses in oncology units. Ahmed et al. (2026) also said that combining knowledge with practice improves the adherence to standard chemotherapy administration procedures and aids in providing quality care in specialized cancer treatment centers.
The aspect of knowledge and practice is essential for the understanding of chemotherapy administration as it is typically complex and is administered on a regular basis in specialized cancer hospitals by oncology nurses. The American Cancer Hospital, Ikeduru operates as a health care institution primarily involved in the diagnosis, treatment and supportive care of people affected by various cancers; hence, the environment affords nurses an opportunity to be actively engaged in chemotherapies as part of a multi-disciplinary approach in cancer care. Abdus-Salam et al. (2022) reported that the staff members of the specialized oncology institutions ought to be professionally competent to provide high-quality chemotherapy services, as these are related to continuous monitoring, educating the patient, and following standardized clinical procedures. Wang et al. (2022) noted that cancer treatment facilities that provide comprehensive treatment services rely significantly on nursing staff who have a good knowledge to effectively implement therapeutic actions. Likewise, Mohamed et al. (2023) noted that oncology nurses play a crucial role in ensuring the continuity of treatment, as they routinely interact with patients during chemotherapy administration and provide care in their roles as patient managers. In this context, looking at nurses' knowledge and practice about giving chemotherapy in American Cancer Hospital, Ikeduru, is a suitable academic forum to understand competence of professionals in this specialized oncology healthcare setting.

1.2 Statement of  the Problem    
The healthcare landscape for cancer has undergone significant transformation with remarkable progress in diagnostics, treatments, and supportive care, creating a demand for highly skilled healthcare professionals in oncology healthcare. Of these professionals, the nurse plays a key role as they are involved in the preparation, administration, monitoring and evaluation of chemotherapy treatment. Chemotherapy treatment success depends greatly on following of standardized clinical procedures and evidence-based nursing practice, according to Wang et al. (2022). In the same way, Hamed et al. (2023) mentioned that the field of oncology nursing is constantly evolving, and nurses must continue to acquire new knowledge and skills to provide the best possible care for their patients. The ideal nurse nurse working in cancer treatment facilities is expected to have in-depth knowledge and show appropriate nursing practice in all aspects of chemotherapy administration which are consistent with the professional standards, institutional guidelines and the current concept of cancer nursing.
However, reservations have remained about differences in nurses' knowledge and practice of how to give chemotherapy in different health care settings. Ahmed et al. (2026) found that the knowledge of chemotherapy procedures and how to handle the drugs as well as monitoring patients was inconsistent among the nurses which might affect adherence to the recommended standards of care. Similarly, Gebre et al (2022) found that variations in how chemotherapy is given could have an impact on the uniformity of the application of evidence-based oncology nursing practices. It is ideal that all nurses who administer chemotherapy have consistently good theoretical knowledge and practice. Despite this, there is a question of whether there is variation in professionals' competence, and whether nurses have the knowledge and competence to safely administer chemotherapy for patients in specialized oncology institutions.
While previous studies have investigated the administration of chemotherapy by nurses in different health care settings, there are few empirical studies on the knowledge and practice of nurses in the American Cancer Hospital, Ikeduru. Previous research may not fully capture the institutional environment, organizational working and professional experiences of this specialised cancer centre. Bibi et al. (2025) highlighted the need to understand the context-specific evidence of competence for nurses in the field of oncology, and Iheanacho et al. (2022) pointed out that there might be variations between healthcare institutions in how chemotherapy-related procedures and professional development are carried out. This lack of local evidence has therefore resulted in the creation of a gap in the knowledge surrounding the extent of nurses' knowledge and practice of chemotherapy administration at American Cancer Hospital, Ikeduru. This study therefore aims to evaluate these variables and thus offer empirical evidence that will help to provide sound decision making, professional development, and improvements in oncology nursing practice.
1.3 Objectives of the Study
The study's main goal is to assess knowledge and practice of chemotherapy administration among nurses at American Cancer Hospital Ikeduru. The study specifically attempted to: 
1.Assess the level of knowledge of chemotherapy administration among nurses at American Cancer Hospital, Ikeduru.
2.Examine the level of practice of chemotherapy administration among nurses at American Cancer Hospital, Ikeduru.
3.Identify the factors influencing the knowledge and practice of chemotherapy administration among nurses at American Cancer Hospital, Ikeduru.
4.Determine the relationship between nurses' knowledge of chemotherapy administration and their practice of chemotherapy administration at American Cancer Hospital, Ikeduru.
Other parts of chapter one include:
1.4 Research Questions: 
1.5 Significance of the Study
1.6 Scope of the Study
1.7 Operational Definition of Terms

CHAPTER TWO
REVIEW OF LITERATURE (Preview)
This chapter critically examines relevant literature that would assist in explaining the research problem and, furthermore, recognizes the efforts of scholars who had previously contributed immensely to similar research. The chapter intends to deepen the understanding of the study and close the perceived gaps. This chapter, therefore, focuses on the concept of chemotherapy, the concept of chemotherapy administration, knowledge of chemotherapy administration among nurses, practices of chemotherapy administration, safety measures and precautions in chemotherapy administration, challenges associated with chemotherapy administration, etc. The chapter is sub-grouped into the following major headings:
2.1 Conceptual Framework
2.2 Theoretical Framework
2.3 Empirical Review
2.4 Summary of Literature Review

CHAPTER THREE
METHODOLOGY (Preview)
Presented below is a snapshot of key areas of the study methodology, the full and detail chapter three methodology is contained in the instant download document.

Research Design: The study adopted a descriptive research design.
Population of the Study: The population of the study comprises all nurses working at American Cancer Hospital, Ikeduru, Imo State.
Sample Size Determination: The study adopted the Taro Yamane formula to determine a sample size of 109 participants.
Sampling Technique: The study employed a multi-stage sampling technique involving stratified and convenience sampling methods to select the individual respondents.
Research Instrument: The study utilized a structured questionnaire titled “Knowledge and Practice of Chemotherapy Administration among Nurses at American Cancer Hospital, Ikeduru” as the instrument for data collection.
Methods of Data Analysis: The collected data were analyzed using frequencies and percentages to summarize and present the demographic characteristics of the respondents and their opinions. The data were analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) and presented in tables, charts, and graphs.
Full outline for chapter three;
3.1 Research Design
3.2 Research Setting
3.3 Target Population
3.4 Sample Size
3.5 Sampling Technique
3.6 Instruments For Data Collection
3.7 Validity and Reliability of Instrument
3.8 Pilot Study
3.9 Method of Data Collection
3.10 Method Of Data Analysis
3.11 Ethical considerations

CHAPTER FOUR: DATA PRESENTATION AND ANALYSIS
MAJOR FINDINGS (Preview)
The analysis results were presented in tables and charts. Based on the results obtained from the analysis, the following major findings were made:

i. The study found that nurses at American Cancer Hospital, Ikeduru, have a high level of knowledge of chemotherapy administration, as evidenced by a grand mean of 3.41, which is above the acceptance benchmark of 3.00. This indicates that the majority of the nurses possess adequate knowledge of standard chemotherapy administration guidelines, safe handling of chemotherapy drugs, possible side effects, appropriate use of personal protective equipment, management of drug spillage, and correct patient identification.

ii. The study found that nurses at American Cancer Hospital, Ikeduru, demonstrate a high level of practice of chemotherapy administration, as evidenced by a grand mean of 3.47, which is above the acceptance benchmark of 3.00. This indicates that the majority of the nurses adhere to standard chemotherapy administration protocols, confirm prescribed dosages, use recommended personal protective equipment, verify patients' identities, document medication administration, and dispose of chemotherapy waste according to established hospital safety guidelines.

iii. The study found that regular in-service training, availability of chemotherapy administration guidelines, adequate supply of personal protective equipment, years of professional experience, and workload are important factors influencing nurses' knowledge and practice of chemotherapy administration at American Cancer Hospital, Ikeduru, as evidenced by a grand mean of 3.49, which is above the acceptance benchmark of 3.00. This indicates that continuous training, adequate resources, professional experience, and manageable workload contribute significantly to effective and safe chemotherapy administration.

iv. The study found that there is a positive perceived relationship between nurses' knowledge of chemotherapy administration and their practice at American Cancer Hospital, Ikeduru, as evidenced by a grand mean of 3.48, which is above the acceptance benchmark of 3.00. This indicates that adequate knowledge, adherence to chemotherapy administration guidelines, continuous professional education, and the application of knowledge acquired through training contribute to safer and more effective chemotherapy administration.

CHAPTER FIVE: DISCUSSION OF FINDINGS
This chapter covers the following outline:
5.1 Discussion of Findings
5.2 Implication of the Findings
5.3 Limitations of the Study
5.4 Summary 
5.5 Conclusion
5.6 Recommendations
5.7 Suggestions for Further Studies
Reference
Appendix

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